22 and instantly his own Eyes fell out of his Head so that he could not see the Vilany which he had done Presently after the former Convert-Executioner who refused to put Alban to death was put to death himself baptized no doubt though not with Water in his own Bloud The Body of Alban was afterwards plainly buried that Age knowing no other 〈◊〉 Saints Dust then to commit it to the Dust Earth to Earth not acquainted with Adoration and Circumgestation of Reliques as ignorant of the Manner how as the Reason why to do it But some hundred yeares after King Offa disturb'd the sleeping Corps of this Saint removing them to a more stately though lesse quiet Bed enshrining them as God willing shall be related hereafter 6. Immediately followed the Martyrdom of Amphibalus Amphibalus Difference about his name Alban's Guest Septemb 16 and Ghostly Father though the Story of his Death be incumbred with much Obscurity For first there is a Quaere in his very Name why called Amphibalus and how came this compounded Greek word to wander into Wales except any will say That this mans British Name was by Authours in after-Ages so translated into Greek Besides the Name speaks rather the Vestment then the Wearer signifying a Cloak wrapt or cast about Samuel was mark't by such a Mantle and it may be he got his name hence as Robert Curt-hose Sonne to William the Conquerour had his Surname from going in such a Garment And it is worth our observing that this good man passeth namelesse in all Authours till about 400 yeares since when Ieffery Monmouth was his Godfather and a Usher de Brit. Eccl. Primord p. 159. first calls him Amphibalus The cruel manner of his Martyrdome for reasons concealed from us and best known to himself 7. But it matters not for Words if the Matter were true being thus reported A thousand Inhabitants of Verulam went into Wales to be further informed in the Faith by the Preaching of Amphibalus who were pursued by a Pagan Army of their fellow-Citizens by whom they were overtaken overcome and murthered save that one man only like Iob's Messenger who escaped of them to report the Losse of the rest And although every thing unlikely is not untrue it was a huge Drag-net and cunningly cast that killed all the Fish in the River Now these Pagan Verolamians brought Amphibalus back again and being within ken of their City in the Village called Redburn three Miles from Verulam they cruelly put him to death For making an Incision in his Belly they took out his Guts and tying them to a Stake whipt him round about it All which he endured as free from Impatience as his Persecuters from Compassion This died Amphibalus and a b Thomas Redburn who wrote 1480. Writer born and named from that Place reporteth that in his dayes the two Knives which stabbed him were kept in the Church of Redburn The heat and resplendent lustre of this Saints Suffering wrought as the Sun-beams according to the Capacity of the matter it met with in the Beholders melting the Waxen Minds of some into Christianity and obdurating the Hard Hearts of others with more madnesse against Religion 7. Tradition reports Vain Fancies concerning the Stake of Amphibalus that the Stake he was tied to afterwards turned to a Tree extant at this very c I mean Anno 1643. day and admired of many as a great Piece of Wonder though as most things of this nature more in Report then Reality That it hath Green Leaves in Winter mine Eyes can witnesse false and as for it standing at a stay time out of mind neither impaired nor improved in Bignesse which some count so strange be it reported to Wood-men Foresters whether it be not ordinarie I think the Wood of the Tree is as miraculous as the Water of the VVell adjoining is medicinall which fond people fetch so farre and yet a credulous Drinker may make a Cordiall Drink thereof 8. At the time of Amphibalus his Martyrdome The Martyrdom of another thousand Britans variously reported another d Vsher de Brit. Eccl. primord pag. 160. Thousand of the Verulam Citizens being converted to Christ were by command of the Iudges all killed in the same Place A strange Execution if true seeing e In his Book of the Bishops of Worcester Iohn Rosse of VVarwick layes the Scene of this Tragedy farre off and at another time with many other Circumstances inconsistent with this Relation Telling us how at Litchfield in Staffordshire this great multitude of People were long before slain by the Pagans as they attended to the Preaching of Amphibalus This relation is favoured by the name of Litchfield which in the British tongue signifies a Golgotha or place bestrewed with Skulls In allusion whereto that Cities Armes are a Field surcharged with 〈…〉 He needs almost a miraculous Faith to be able to remove Mountains yea to make the Sunne stand still and sometimes to go back who will undertake to accord the Contradictions in Time and Place between the severall Relatours of this History 9. The Records of VVinchester make mention of a great Massacre Severall Places pretend to and contend for the same Martyrdome where by at this time all their Monks were slain in their Church whilest the Chronicle of VVestminster challengeth the same to be done in their Convent and the History of Cambridge ascribeth it to the Christian Students of that University killed by their British Persecuters Whether this hapned in any or all of these Places I will not determine For he tells a Lye though he tells a Truth that peremptorily affirms that which he knows is but Uncertain Mean time we see that it is hard for men to suffer Martyrdom and easie for their Posterity to brag of their Ancestours Sufferings yea who would not intitle themselves to the Honour when it is parted from the Pain When Persecution is a coming every man posteth it off as the Philistins did the a 1 Sam. 5. Ark infected with the Plague and no place will give it entertainment But when the Storm is once over then as seven Cities contended for Homer's Birth in them many Places will put in to claim a share in the Credit thereof 10. Besides Amphibalus The impersect History of these times suffered Aaron and Iulius two substantiall Citizens of Caer-lion and then Socrates and Stephanus forgotten by our British Writers but remembred by forreign Authours and Augulius Bishop of London then called Augusta Besides these we may easily believe many more went the same way for such Commanders in Chief do not fall without Common Souldiers about them It was Superstition in the Athenians to build an Altar to the b Acts 17. 23. UNKNOWN GOD but it would be Piety in us here to erect a Monument in memorial of these Vnknown Martyrs whose Names are lost The best is God's Kalender is more compleat then man's
Idolaters who from misapplying that undeniable Truth of Gods being in every thing made every thing to be their God Trees Rivers Hills and Mountains They worshipped Devils whose Pictures remained in the dayes of a Epist de Excid Brit. Gildas within and without the decayed Walls of their Cities drawn with deformed Faces no doubt done to the Life according to their Terrible Apparitions so that such ugly Shapes did not woe but fright people into Adoration of them Wherefore if any find in Tully that the Britans in his time had no Pictures understand him they were not Artists in that Mystery like the Greeks and Romans they had not pieces of Proportion being rather Dawbers then Drawers Stainers then Painters though called Picti from their self-discoloration 2. Three paramount Idols they worshipped above all the rest Their Principall Idols and ascribed divine honour unto them 1. Apollo by them styled Belinus the Great 2. Andnaste b Xiphil Epi. in Nerone or Andate the Goddesse of Victorie 3. Diana Goddesse of the Game This last was most especially reverenced Britain being then all a Forest where Hunting was not the Recreation but the Calling and Venison not the Dainties but the Diet of Common people There is a place near S. Pauls in London called in old Records DIANA'S CHAMBER where in the daies of K. c Camden Britann in Middlesex Edward the first thousands of the Heads of Oxen were digged up whereat the Ignorant wondred whilest the Learned well understood them to be the proper Sacrifices to Diana whose great Temple was built thereabout This rendereth their Conceit not altogether unlikely who will have LONDON so called from LLAN-DIAN which signifieth in British the Temple of DIANA And surely Conjectures if mannerly observing their Distance and not impudently intruding themselves for Certainties deserve if not to be received to be considered Besides these specified they had other Portenta Diabolica a Gildas ut prius pene numero Aegyptiaca vincentia as indeed they who erroneously conceive one God too little will find two too many and yet Millions not enough As for those learned b Druides unum esse Deum semper inculcarunt Camden and Bp. Godwin Pens which report that the Druides did instruct the Ancient Britans in the Knowledge and Worship of one onely God may their Mistake herein be as freely forgiven them as I hope and desire that the Charitable Reader will with his Pardon meet those unvoluntary Errours which in this Work by me shall be committed 3. Two sorts of People were most honoured amongst the Britans 1. Druides who were their Philosophers Divines Lawyers 2. Bards who were their Prophets Poets Historians The former were so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The office and employment of the Druides signifying generally a Tree and properly an Oak under which they used to perform their Rites and Ceremonies An Idolatrie whereof the Iews themselves had been guilty for which the Prophet threatneth them c Isai 1. 29. They shall be ashamed of the Oaks which they have desired But the signall Oak which the Druides made choice of was such a one on which d Pliny Natur Hist lib. 6. cap. 44. Misletoe did grow by which privie token they conceived God marked it out as of soveraigne vertue for his service Under this Tree on the sixth day of the Moon whereon they began their Year they invocated their Idols and offered two white Bulls filleted in the horns with many other Ceremonies These Pagan Priests never wrote anything so to procure the greater Veneration to their Mysteries men being bound to believe that it was some great Treasure which was locked up in such great Secresie 4. The Bards were next the Druides in Regard The powerfull practices of the Bards on the people and played excellently to their Songs on their Harps whereby they had great Operation on the Vulgar surprising them into Civility unawares they greedily swallowing whatsoever was sweetned with Musick These also to preserve their Ancestours from Corruption embalmed their Memories in Rhiming Verses which looked both backward in their Relations and forward in their Predictions so that their Confidence meeting with the Credulity of others advanced their wild Conjectures to the Reputation of Prophesies The Immortality of the Soul they did not flatly denie but salfely believe disguised under the opinion of Transanimation conceiving that dying mens Souls afterward passed into other Bodies either preferred to better or condemned to worse according to their former good or ill behaviour This made them contemn Death and alwayes maintain erected Resolutions counting a valiant Death the best of Bargains wherein they did not loose but lay out their Lives to Advantage Generally they were great Magicians insomuch that e Natur. Hist lib. 30. cap. 1. Plinie saith that the very Persians in some sort might seem to have learn't their Magick from the Britans 5. So pittifull for the present 37 and more fearfull for the future was the condition of the Heathen Britans The first preaching of the Gospell in Britain Causes which hastened the conversion of Britain before other kingdoms which lay nearer to Palestine when it pleased God with a strong hand and stretched-out Arme to reach the Gospel unto them who were afarre off both in locall and theologicall Distance This was performed in the later end of the Reigne of Tiberius some thirty seven years after Christ's Birth as Polydor Virgil collecteth out of the testimony of f Tempore ut scimus summo Tiberii Caesaris inp Epist de Ex. Brit. Gildas 6. If it seem incredible to any that this Island furthest from the Sunne should see Light with the first whil'st many Countries on the Continent interposed nearer in Situation to Iudaea the Fountain of the Gospell sate as yet and many years after in Darknesse and in the Shadow of Death Let such consider First That Britain being a by-Corner out of the Road of the World seemed the safest Sanctuarie from Persecution 37 which might invite Preachers to come the sooner into it Secondly it facilitated the Entrance of the Gospell hither that lately the Roman Conquest had in part civilized the South of this Island by transporting of Colonies thither and erecting of Cities there so that by the Intercourse of Traffick and Commerce with other Countries Christianity had the more speedy and convenient Wastage over Whereas on the other side this set the Conversion of Germany so backward because the in-land Parts thereof entertained no Trading with others and out of Defiance to the Romans hugged their own Barbarisme made lovely with Liberty bolting out all Civility from themselves as jealous that it would usher in Subjection Lastly and chiefly God in a more peculiar manner did alwayes favour the Islands as under his immediate Protection For as he daily walls them with his Providence against the scaling of the swelling Surges and constant Battery of the Tide so he made a
and critically bud on Christmas day such Miracles must be tenderly toucht lest crusht by harsh handling they vanish into smoke like the Apples of Sodome but on the dayes near or about it However it is very strange that this Haw-thorn should be the Harbenger and as it were ride post to bring the first news of the Spring holding alone as it may seem correspondency with the Trees of the Antipodes whilest other Haw-thorns near unto it have nothing but winter upon them 16. It is true Different opinions of men concerning it by powring every night warm water on the root thereof a Tree may be maturated artificially to bud out in the midst of Winter but it is not within suspicion that any such cost is here expended Some likewise affirm that if an Haw-thorn be grafted upon an Holly it is so adopted into the stock that it will bud in Winter but this doth not satisfie the accurateness of the time Wherefore most men pursued to render a reason hereof take refuge at Occulta Qualitas the most mannerly confession of Ignorance And God sometimes puts forth such questions and Riddles in nature on purpose to pose the Pride of men conceited of their skill in such matters But some are more uncharitable in this point who because they cannot find the reason hereof on Earth do fetch it from Hell not sticking to affirm that the Devil to dandle the infant faith of fond people works these prety Feats and petty Wonders having farther intents to invite them to Superstition and mould them to Saint-worship thereby 17. However The subject of the question taken away there is no necessity that this should be imputed to the Holiness of Arimathean Ioseph For there is as it is credibly said an Oake in New-Forest nigh Lindhurst in Hantshire which is indued with the same quality putting forth leaves about the same time where the firmness of the Rinde thereof much encreaseth the wonder and yet to my knowledge for ought I could ever learn none ever referred it to the miraculous influence of any Saint But I loose pretious time and remember a pleasant Story How two Physitians the one a Galenist the other a Paracelsian being at supper fell into an hote dispute about the manner of Digestion whilest they began to ingage with earnestness in the controversie a third man casually coming in caried away the meat from them both Thus whilest opposite parties discuss the cause of this Haw-thorns budding on Christmas day some Souldiers have lately cut the Tree down and Christmas day it self is forbidden to be observ'd and so I think the question is determined 18. To conclude this Century The conclusion of this Century By all this it doth not appear that the first Preachers of the Gospel in Britain did so much as touch at Rome much lesse that they received any Command or Commission thence to convert Britain which should lay an eternal obligation of Gratitude on this Island to the See of Rome Insomuch that Parsons himself as unwilling to confess as unable to deny so apparent a truth flies at last to this slight and slender Shift a 3 Conversions 1 part 1 ch num 26. That albeit S. Joseph came not immediatly from Rome yet he taught in England in Britain he would say the Roman faith whereof S. Paul hath written to the Romans b Rom. 1. 8. themselves that your Faith is spoken of through the whole World Hereby the Iesuite hopes still to keep on foot the ingagement of this Island to Rome for her first Conversion But why should he call the Christian Religion the Roman faith rather then the faith of Hierusalem or the faith of Antioch seeing it issued from the former and was received first named in the later City before any spark of Christianity was kindled at Rome But what is the main he may sooner prove the modern Italian tongue now spoken in Rome to be the self-same in propriety purity with the Latine language in Tullie's time then that the Religion profess'd in that City at this day with all the Errours and Superstitions thereof is the same in foundnesse of Doctrine and sanctitie of Life with that Faith which by S t. Paul in the Roman Church was then so highly commended THE SECOND CENTURY To Robert Abdy of London Esquire HE that hath an Hand to take and no Tongue to return Thanks deserveth for the future to be lame and dumb Which punishment that it may not light on me accept this acknovvledgement of your Favours to your devoted Friend and Servant T. F. 1. DEsire of our Country's honour would now make us lay claim to Taurinus 105 Bishop of York Taurinus no B P. of York and reported Martyr To strengthen our Title unto him we could produce many a Guil. Harrison descript Brit. l. 1. c. 7. Wernerus Laërius in Fasciculo Anno 94. Hartmannus Schedelius in Chronico Writers affirming it if Number made Weight in this case But being convinced in our judgement that such as make him a Britan ground their pretence on a leading Mistake reading him Episcopum EBORACENSEM instead of EBROICENSEM Eureux as I take it in France we will not enrich our Country by the Errours of any or advantage her Honour by the Misprisions of others Thus being conscientiously scrupulous not to take or touch a thread which is none of our own we may with more boldness hereafter keep what is justly ours and chalenge what is unjustly detained from us 2. But the main matter 108 which almost engrosseth all the History of this Century Difference of Authours concerning the time of King Lucius his conversion and by scattered dates is spread from the beginning to the end thereof is the Conversion of Lucius King of Britain to Christianity However not to dissemble I do adventure thereon with much averseness seeming sadly to presage that I shall neither satisfie others nor my self such is the Varietie yea Contrarietie of Writers about the time thereof If the Trumpet saith the Apostle giveth an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the Battell He will be at a loss to order and dispose this Story aright who listeneth with greatest attention to the trumpet of Antiquity sounding at the same time a March Retreit appointing Lucius to come into the world by his Birth whâ—n others design him by Death to goe out of the same Behold Reader a view of their Differences presented unto thee and it would puzzle Apollo himself to tune these jarring Instruments into a Consort These make K. Lucius converted Anno Domini 1 P. Iovius in Descrip Brit. 99 2 Io. Cajus in Hist Cantab. 108 3 Annals of Burton 137 4 Ninius in one Copie 144 5 Annals of Krokysden 150 6 Iefferie Monmouth 155 7 Iohn Capgrave 156 8 Matth. Florilegus 158 9 Florence Vigorniensis 162 10 Antiq. of VVinchester 164 11 Tho. Redburn jun. 165 12 VVil of Malmesbury 166 13
unable to goe on so ashamed to break off scarce having had of a full Hundred Years so many Words of solid History But as I find little so I will feign nothing time being better spent in Silence then in Lying Nor do I doubt but clean Stomacks will be better satisfied with one drop of the Milk of Truth then foul Feeders who must have their Bellies ful with a Trough of VVash mingled with the water of Fabulous Inventions If any hereafter shall light on more History of these times let them not condemn my Negligence whilest I shall admire their Happinesse THE FOURTH CENTURY Anno Dom. To Theophilus Bidulph of London Esquire OF all Shires in England Stafford-shire vvas if not the soonest the largest sovvn vvith the Seed of the Church I mean the bloud of primitive Martyrs as by this Century doth appear I could not therefore dedicate the same to a fitter person then your self vvhose Family hath flourished so long in that County and vvhose Favours have been so great unto your thankfull Friend T. F 1. DArk and tempestuous was the Morning of this Century 303 which afterward cleared upto be a fair Day First persecution in Britain under Diocletian It began with great Affliction to Gods Saints The Spirit saith to the Church of Smyrna a Revel 2. 10. Ye shall have Tribulation ten dayes This is commonly understood of the Ten generall Persecutions over all the Christian world But herein Divine Mercy magnified it self towards this Island that the last Oecumenicall was the first Provinciall Persecution in Britain God though he made our Church his Darling would not make it a Wanton she must taste of the Rod with the rest of her Sisters The Fiery b 1 Pet. 1. 12. Triall spoken of by the Apostle now found out even those which by water were divided from the rest of the World This tenth Persecution as it was the last so it was the greatest of all because Satan the shorter his Reign the sharper his Rage so that what his Fury lacks in the Length it labours to gaâ—â— in the Thickness thereof 2. In this Persecution Alban the British S t. Stephen how a Citizen of Rome the first Britan which to Heaven led the Van of the noble Army of Martyrs was Alban a wealthy Inhabitant of Verolam-cestre and a Citizen of Rome for so Alexander c In his Poem on Verulam Neccham reports him Hic est Martyrii roseo decoratus honore Albanus Cives inclyta Roma tuus Here Alban Rome thy Citizen renow'nd With rosy Grace of Martyrdome was crown'd None need stop much lesse stumble at this seeming Contradiction easily reconciled by him that hath read S t. Paul in one place proclaiming himself an d Philipp 3. 5. Hebrew of the Hebrews and e Acts 22. 25. elsewhere pleading himself to be a Roman because born in Tarsus a City of Cilicia and Roman Colony as Verolam-cestre was at this time enfranchised with many Immunities Thus Alban was a Britan by Parentage a Roman by Priviledge naturally a Britan naturallized a Roman and which was his greatest Honour he was also Citizen of that spiritual Hierusalem which is from above 3. His Conversion happened on this manner The manner of Alban's Conversion Amphibalus a Christian Preacher of Caer-lion in VVales was fain to fly from persecution into the Eastern parts of this Island and was entertained by Alban in his house in Verulam Soon did the Sparks of this Guests Zeal catch hold on his Host and inflamed him with love to the Christian Religion Anno Dom. 303 Herein our Saviour made good his promise a Matth. 10. 41. He that receiveth a Righteous man in the name of a Righteous man shall receive a Righteous mans reward And the Shot of Amphibalus his Entertainment was plentifully discharged in Alban's sodain and sincere Conversion Not long after a search being made for Amphibalus Alban secretly and safely conveighed him away b Beda lib. 1. cap. 7. exchanging Cloaths with him offered himself for his Guest to the Pagan Officers who at that instant were a sacrificing to their Devil-Gods where not onely Alban being required refused to sacrifice but also he reproved others for so doing and thereupon was condemned to most cruell Torments But he conquered their Cruelty with his Patience and though they tortured their Brains to invent Tortures for him he endured all with Chearfulnesse till rather their Wearinesse then Pity made them desist And here we must bewaile that we want the true Story of this mans Martyrdome which impudent Monks have mixed with so many improbable Tales that it is a Torture to a discreet Eare to heare them However we will set them down as we find them the rather because we count it a thrifty way first to gult the Readers belief with Popish Miracles that so he may loath to look or listen after them in the sequele of the History 4. Alban being sentenced to be beheaded The miraculous Martyrdom of Alban much people flockt to the place of his Execution which was on a Hill called c Understand 〈◊〉 so called afterwards in the time of the Saxons Holm-hurst to which they were to go over a River where the narrow Passage admitted of very few a-breast Alban being to follow after all the Multitude and perceiving it would be very late before he could come to act his Part and counting every Delay half a Denial who wil blame one for longing to have a Crown by his Prayer obtained that the River parting asunder afforded free Passage for many together The corrupted Copy of Gildas calls this River the d Thames is wanting in the Manuscript Gildas in Cambridge Library Thames But if the Miracle were as farre from Truth as Thames from Verulam being 16 Miles distant it would be very hard to bring them both together The sight here of so wrought with him who was appointed to be his Executioner that he utterly refused the Imployment desiring rather to Die with him or for him then to offer him any Violence Yet soon was another substituted in his place for some cruel Doeg will quickly be found to do that Office which more mercifull men decline 5. Alban at the last being come to the Top of the Hill A new spring of Water at Alban's summons appears in the top of a Hill was very dry and desirous to drink Wonder not that he being presently to tast of Ioyes for evermore should wish for fading Water Sure he thirsted most for God's Glory and did it only to catch hold of the handle of an occasion to work a Miracle for the good of the Beholders For presently by his Prayer he summoned up a Spring to come forth on the top of the Hill to the amazement of all that saw it Yet it moistened not his Executioners Heart with any Pity who notwithstanding struck off the Head of this worthy Saint May 23 Aliter Iune
Credit hereunto multiplying Objections against it Obj. There were say they many places besides Cambridge in the Kingdome of the East-Angles conteining Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire which with equall Probability may pretend to this School of Sigebert's Foundation seeing Bede doth not nominatim affirm Cambridge for the particular Place where this University was erected 50. Ans Answer Though Bede be Dumb in this particular notnaming Cambridge yet he makes such Signes that most intelligent Antiquaries by us alledged understand him to intend the same especially seeing Cambridge is acknowledged by all Authours time out of mind to have been a place for the Education of Students in Literature 51. Obj. Second Objection If any such University was founded by Sigebert it was at Grantchester differing as in Appellation so in Situation from Cambridge as being a good mile South West thereof Cambridge therefore cannot entitle it self but by apparent Usurpation to the ancient Priviledges of Grantchester 52. Ans Answer Most usuall it is for ancient places to alter their Names Babylon to Bagdet Byzantium to Constantinople our old Verulam to S t. Albans still retaining the numerical Nature they had before Oxford they tell us was once called a Bryan Twine Antiq. Acad. Ox. pag. 114. Bellositum and yet not altered from it's same self by another Name Nor is it any news for great Cities in processe of time as weary of long standing to ease themselves a little by hitching into another place Thus some part of modern Rome is removed more then a mile from the ancient Area thereof Thus Ierusalem at this day is come down from Mount Sion and more South-West climbed up Mount Calvary Yet either of these Places would account themselves highly injured if not reputed for the main the same with the former Sufficeth it that some part of Cambridge stands at this day where b Mr. Camden an Oxford-man in his description of Cambridgeshire alloweth Grantchester and Cambridge for the same place Third Objection Grantchester did which anciently c Cajus de Antiq. Cantab ex libro Barnwellensi pag. 11. Answer extended North-West as far as the Village called Howse and that 's enough to keep possession of the Priviledges of Grantchester as properly belonging thereunto Especially seeing Oxford at this day layes claim to the Antiquityes of Crekelade and Lechlade Towns distant sixteen miles off the one in VVilts the other in Glocestershire two ancient Schools of Greek and Latine as some will have it removed afterwards to Oxford from whence some of her Assertours do date her Beginning 53. Obj. Sigebert founded but Scholam which makes little to the Honour of Cambridge For thereby her Professours are degraded to Pedants and by a retrograde Motion Cambridge is sent back to Eaton I mean is made no better then a great Grammar-School 54. Ans If the best of Latine Oratours may be believed Schola properly signifies the Place where all Arts are publickly professed d Tully De natura Deorum Ex Platonis schola Ponticus Heraclides Ponticus Heraclides came out of the school of Plato Which is notoriously known to have been an Academie yea all his Scholars known by the name of Academicks to this day Those of Salerno in Italy dedicating a book of Physick to our Henry the second I take it begin thus Anglorum Regi scribit Schola tota Salerni School-boys deserve to be whipped indeed if presuming to prescribe Receipts to a King But that Schola there is sufficiently known to have been a famous University And under the favour of the University the word Vniversitas is but a base and barbarous Latine whiles Schola is pure Greek originally to design either the Place where generall Learning is publickly professed or the Persons studying therein And though I dare not totally concurre with that e Mr. Camden in his Britannia pag. 381. in Oxfordshire Fourth Objection Learned Critick that Vniversit as was first used in the foresaid sense about the reign of King Henry the third yet I believe it will not be found in any Classicall Authour in that modern acception 55. Obj. In good Authours Sigebert is said to have founded not only Scholam a School but Scholas Schools in the plurall If Schola therefore be an University either he made moe Universities then one in Cambridge which is absurd to affirm or else he erected moe Universities in other places of his Kingdome which Cantabrigians will not willingly confesse 56. Ans Answer The variation of the Number is of no Concernment For if respect be had to the severall Arts there professed Sigebert founded Schools in the plurall but if regard be taken of the Cyclopaedy of the Learning resulting from those severall Sciences he erected but one Grand School Every Fresh-man knows that the single Quadrant wherein the publick Lectures are read and Acts kept is called plurally the Schools in each University 57. Obj. Fifth Objection But Bede terms them Pueros Boyes properly under the Rod and Ferula whom Sigebert placed in his School and the word Paedagogi Vshers placed over them imports the same that they were no University-Students but a company of little Lads that lived there under Correction 58. Ans Answer Criticks will satisfie you that the word Pueri signifies even those of more Maturity especially if living sub regimine under the Discipline of Superiours Secondly Bede being a great Divine and conversant in Scripture-phrase borroweth an expression thence Christ calling his Disciples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Iohn 21. 5. Children He useth also Paedagogos in the same notion with b 1 Cor. 4. 15. S t. Paul's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which our last Translatours reade Instructours in Christ even to the Corinthians who still needed such Paedagogues or Teachers though already c 1 Cor. i. 5. enriched in all utterance and knowledge Thirdly the Saxon ancient Copy of Bede which doubtlesse doth emphatically render the Latine translates pueri â—eonâ—e menn Fourthly Asserius Menevensis speaking of Alfred's founding of Oxford faith that he endowed the same Suae propriae Gentis nobilibus Pueris etiam ignobilibus and it is but equal that the Pueri at Cambridge should be allowed as much man in them as those at Oxford Lastly the young Frie of Scholars when first admitted is such to whom * All the Scholars of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge not being Fellows are termed pueri in their Statutes Pueri in the proper sense thereof may well be applyed And here it may seasonably be remembred how an d Bryan Twine Antiq. Oxon. p. 322. Oxford Antiquary affirmeth that Edward the fifth Prince of VVales and Richard his brother Duke of York Oxoniae studuerunt studied at Oxford in the life-time of their Father Stout Students no doubt whereof the Elder could not then be ten the Younger not nine yeares old But I forget what Lawyers hold that the Kings eldest Son is at full Age for
His admirable successe in his wars as totally taken up with his atchievements in Scotland and France where his successe by Sea and Land was above beliefe and even to admiration He conquered both before his face and behind his back Whence he came and whither he went North and South the one in his person the other by his substitutes in his absence Insomuch that he got more then he knew what to do with exhausting the Land to man the Cities which he had gained Herein he stands without a parallel that he had both the Kings he fought against viz. John de Dalois of France and David the King of Scotland his prisoners at one time not taken by any cowardly surprize but by fair fight in open field 5. It soundeth much to the commendation of his modesty and moderation And humility that intending to found an Order of Knight-hood at his Castle of Windsor * Others say in London Town where he had these two Royall prisoners In the institution thereof he neither had any insolent relation to his own conquest nor opprobrious reflection on his enemies captivity but began the innocent Order of the Garter unreferring to any of his former atchievements But more hereof in due time 6. The King and State began now to grow sensible of the great gain he Netherlands got by our English Wool England hitherto ignorant in curious Cloathing in memory whereof the Duke of Burgundy not long after instituted the order of the Golden Fleece wherein indeed the Fleece was ours the Golden theirs so vast their Emolument by the Trade of Clothing Our King therefore resolved if possible to reduce the Trade to his own Country Anno Regis Ed. tertii 11 who as yet were ignorant of that Art Anno Dom. 1336. as knowing no more what to do with their Wool then the sheep that weare it as to any Artificiall and curious Drabery their best Cloathes then being no better then Freezes such their coursnesse for want of skill in their making But soon after followed a great alteration and we shall enlarge our selves in the manner thereof 7. The intercourse now being great betwixt the English and the Netherlands increased of late since King Edward married the Daughter of the Earl of Hainalt unsuspected Emissaries The Kings Agents tempt the Dutch apprentices were imployed by our King into those Countries who wrought themselves into familiarity with such Dutch men as were Absolute Masters of their Trade but not Masters of themselves as either Journeymen or Apprentiees These bemoaned the slavishnesse of these poore servants whom their Masters used rather like Heathens then Christians yea rather like Horses then Men. Early up and late in bed and all day hard work and harder fare a few Herrings and mouldy Cheese and all to inrich the Churles their Masters without any profit unto themselves 8. But oh how happy should they be if they would but come over into England To come over into England bringing their Mystery with them which would provide their welcome in all places Here they should feed on fatt Beef and Mutton till nothing but their fulnesse should stint their stomacks yea they should feed on the labours of their own hands enjoying a proportionable profit of their pains to themselves their beds should be good and their bedfellows better seeing the richest Yeomen in England would not disdain to marry their Daughters unto them and such the English beauties that the most envious Forreigners could not but commend them 9. Liberty is a Lesson quickly conn'd by heart And obtain their desire men having a principle within themselves to prompt them in case they forget it Perswaded with the premises many Dutch servants leave their Masters and make over for England Their departure thence being pickt here and there made no sensible vacuity but their meeting here altogether amounted to a considerable fulness With themselves they brought over their Trade and their Tools namely such which could not as yet be so conveniently made in England 10. Happy the Yeomans House into which one of these Dutchmen did enter bringing industry and wealth along with them Their welcome reception Such who came in strangers within their doors soon after went out Bridegrooms and returned Son in laws having married the Daughters of their Landlords who first entertained them Yea those Yeomen in whose houses they harboured soon proceeded Gentlemen gaining great estates to themselves arms and worship to their estates 11. The King having gotten this Treasury of Forreigners The King politickly disperseth the Dutch thought not fit to continue them all in one place lest on discontent they might imbrace a generall resolution to return but bestowed them thorow all the parts of the Land that Cloathing thereby might be the better dispersed Here I say nothing of the Colony of old Dutch who frighted out of their own Country with an Inundation about the reign of King Henry the first possibly before that Nation had attained the cunning of Cloath-making were seated only in Pembroke-shire This new Generation of Dutch was now sprinkled every where so that England in relation I mean to her own Counties may be speak these Inmates in the language of the Poet Que regio in terris vestri non plena laboris though generally where left to their own choice they preferred a Maritine Habitation East 1. Norfolk Norwich Fustians 2. Suffolk Sudbury Bayes 3. Essex Colchester Sayes and Serges 4. Kent Rentish Broad-clothes West 1. Devonshire Kirses 2. Gloucestershire 3. Worcestershire Cloth 4. Wales Welsh Friezes North. 1. Westmerland Kendall Cloath 2. Lancashire Manchester Cotton 3. Yorkshire Halifax Clothes 4. South 1. Somersetshire Taunton Serges 2. Hamshire 3. Berkshire 4. Sussex Cloth I am informed that a prime Dutch Cloth-maker in Gloucestershire had the Sirname of Web given him by King Edward there a Family still famous for their manufacture Observe we here that mid England Northamptonshire Lincolnshire and Cambridge having most of Woâ—l have least of cloathing therein 12. Here the Dutchmen found Fullers earth Fullers earth a precious commodity a precious Treasure whereof England hath if not more better then all Christendom besides a great Commodity of the Quorum to the making of good Cloath so that Nature may seem to point out our land for the Staple of Drapery if the idlenesse of her inhabitants be not the only hinderance thereof This Fullers Earth is clean contrary to our Jesuites who are needlesse Drugs yet still staying here though daily commanded to depart whilst Fullers earth a precious ware is daily scowred hence though by law forbidden to to be transported 13. And now was the English Wool improved to the highest profit woollen cloth the English wealth passing through so many hands every one having a fleece of the Fleece Sorters Kembers Carders Spinsters Weavers Fullers Diers Pressers Packers and these Manifactures have been heightned to a higher perfection since the cruelty
resolves revenge and because he could not make her Queen whom he desired he would make him King whom he pleased 31. Take hereof this cursory account 8. After many bloudy battles 1468 King Edward was taken Prisoner at Wolney in Warwick-shire King Edward taken prisoner and King Henry enlarged and committed by the Earl of Warwick to the custody of his Brother George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Henry is brought out of the Tower shall I call him the sixth or the seventh because dead though not in Law in dignity and once Deposed he is now restored again to wear the Royal Robes not so much as his own garments but as the Livery the Earl of Warwick his liberality However he acted a very short part of Soveraignty wherein he revenged not any personal wrongs offered unto him in his restraint For one who thrust him into the side with a sword when he was Prisoner in the Tower was afterwards pardoned by him when restored to his former dignity 32. Mean time the Arch-Bishop allowed King Edward liberty to ride abroad and follow his pleasure Edward escaped flieth beyond sea and returneth now a careless Keeper giveth his Prisoner a warning and sheweth him a way to make his escape King Edward followeth his hawking so long that he taketh his own flight at last Over he gets beyond the Seas to his Brother in law Charles Duke of Burgundie by whom he was supplied to the proportion of a competent subsistence but not enabled for the recovering of a Crown However he returned into England landed in the North marched to York desired to be received therein as into the place whence he received his Title but in no other notion then a Subject to King Henry taking the Sacrament on the truth thereof but having gotten the City as Duke he kept it as King contrary to his oath for which his Children are conceived to fare no whit the better 33. Let the State-Historians inform you with what various changes K. Edward made hence into the South Recovereth the Crown by Conquest and at last near Barnet bid battle to and defeated the Earl of Warwick 10. slain with his Brother the Marquess Montague on the place 1470 Learn also from them how King Henry was cruelly put to death and his Son and Queen Margaret soon after overthrown at Tewxbury For when a Royal Family is once falling all things conduce to expedite their destruction Henceforward King Edward saving the differences of his own with his Wives Kindred passed the remnant of his dayes in much peace plenty and pleasure 34. In most of the Battles we may observe Why most Armies make for London it was the word general of the weaker side for London for London as the most martial thrift to Conquer a Kingdom in a City For such whose necessities can allow their Armies but little time to stay do burn day light in pelting against petty Towns in the out skirts of a Land especially if all other humane hopes be in one desperate push Hence was it that so many Battles were fought about Barnet and S t Albans the Cock-pit of War the lines of all Armies drawn from the circumference of the Land being the closer together the nearer they approched London the Center in Trade and Wealth though not in exact position thereof 35. Come we now to a tamer contest Brawls betwixt Mendicants and Secular Priests and more proper for our pen continuing all this Kings time betwixt the Begging Friers and Secular Priests the former not content to cry up the dignity of their own Order Anno Dom. 1470. but cast contempt on the rest of the Clergie Anno Regis Ed. 4. 10. But these bold Beggers met with as bold sayers â—ay I mean these Mendicants found their matches in the Secular Priests effectually humbling their pride herein For it was beheld as a most pestiferous doctrine the Friers so heightning the perfection of begging that according to their principles all the Priesthood and Prelacy in the Land yea by consequence the Pope himself did fall short of the sanctity of their Order Yet hard was it for them to perswade his Holiness to quit Peters Patrimony and betake himself to poverty although a Fryer Thomas Holden by name did not blush to preach at Pauls Cross that a Fox Acts and Mon. p. 717. Christ himself as first Founder of their Society was a Beggar a manifest untruth and easily confuted out of Scripture 36. For vast the difference betwixt begging Christ falsely traduced to be a beggar and taking what the bounty of others doth freely confer as our Saviour did from such who b Luke 8. 3. ministred unto him of their substance We never read him begging any thing save when from the c John 4. 7. Woman of Samaria he asked water a creature so common and needful that it was against the law of nature to deny it him Nor is it probable he was a Mendicant who was rated in the Publicans Tole-Book and paid Tribute unto d Mat. 17. 24. Caesar Not to say that he was so far from begging John 13. 29. that it was his custom especially about the time of the Passeover to relieve others and Judas his Purse-bearer was his Almoner to distribute to the poor 37. Here it will not be amiss to reckon up the principal Champions on both sides Writers pro con in the cause whose pens publickly appeared For Mendicants Against Mendicants 1. Henry f Piz p. 660. Parker a Carmelite bred in Cambridg living afterwards in Doncaster Covent imprisoned for preaching 2. Jo. g Idem p. 673 Milverton bred in Oxford Carm. of Bristol being excommunicated by the Bishop of London and appealing to the Pope found no favour but was kept three years captive in S t Angelo 1. Thomas h Idem p. 659 Wilton Doctor of both Laws and say some Dean of Saint Pauls most zealous in his preachings and disputings 2. William Ivie i Idem p. 654. Canon of S t Pauls in London who wrote very learnedly in the defence of Rich. Hill Bishop of London who imprisoned two Mendicants for their proud preaching But after Pope Paul the second had interposed herein concluding quod Christus publicè mendicavit pro damnata haeresi undique declarandam conculcandam esse the Mendicants let fall their Bucklers and the controversie sunk in silence nevermore revived 38. Never had England at once two Arch-Bishops of so high extraction as at this time A prodigious fear at an Arch-Bishops installation namely Thomas Bourchier Son of Henry Earl of Essex and George Nevil Brother to the Great Earl of Warwick The latter is famous for a prodigious Feast wherein whoso noteth the number and quality of the Guests all the Nobility most of the prime Clergie many of the Great Gentry will wonder where he got meat for so many mouthes whilest such who number the dishes thereof
own abstinence as there is none in all your antient Paternall estate for I account not what since by accession of Matches hath accrued unto it Thus are you the Person designed for my purpose and I believe very few if any in ENGLAND can wash their hands in the same Bason to have no Abbey-lands sticking to their fingers and thus being freest from being a Party in due time you will be fittest to be a Judge to passe unpartial sentence on what is written on this subject And now let me make your Lordship smile a little acquainting you with a passage in the Legend of NICHOLAS a Popish Saint They c Lib. Festival in die S. Nichol. fol. 55. report of him That when an Infant hanging on his Mothers breast he fasted Wednesdaies and Fridaies and could not be urged to suck more than once a day But good my Lord be not so ceremonious or rather superstitious to imitate his example Wean not your self until you be weaned and let all daies be alike to your Honour I dare assure you no spark of Sanctity the lesse for a drop of milke the more A good case is no hindrance to a pretious jewell and a healthfull body no abasement to a holy soule And when your Lordship shall arrive at riper years consult your own Extraction as the best Remembrancer of worthy behaviour In whose veines there is the confluence of so many Rivulets that a mean Herault by the guidance thereof upwards may be led to the fountains of the most of the English Nobility All I will adde is this as you give three Helmets for your Armes may you be carefull to take the fourth even the d Eph. 6. 17. helmet of salvation An Helmet which here is worn close whilest Souldiers in the Church-Militant we see but in part but hereafter shall be born like the Helmet of Princes with the bever open in the Church-Triumphant when we shall see as we are seen The desire of Your Honours most engaged Beads-man THOMAS FVLLER The History of Abbeys in ENGLAND Primitive MONKS with their Piety and Painfulnesse WHen the Fornace of Persecution in the Infancy of Christianity was grown so hot First Monks caused by persecution that most Cities Towns and populous Places were visited with that Epidemical Disease many pious men fled into Desarts there to live with more safety and serve God with lesse disturbance No wilde humour to make themselves miserable and to chuse and court their own calamity put them on this project much lesse any Superstitious Opinion of transcendent Sanctity in a Solitary life made them willingly to leave their former Habitations For whereas all men by their Birth are indebted to their Countrey there to stay and discharge all civil relations it had been dishonesty in them like Bankrupts to run away into the Wildernesse to defraud their Countrey their Creditor except some violent Occasion such as Persecution was forced them thereunto and this was the first Originall of Monks in the world so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because living alone by themselves 2. Here they in the Desarts hoped to finde Rocks Their pious employment in a solitary life and Stocks yea Beasts themselves more kinde than Men had been to them What would Hide and Heat Cover and keep Warm served them for Cloathes not placing as their Successours in after-Ages any Holinesse in their Habit folded up in the affected Fashion thereof As for their Food the Grasse was their Cloath the Ground their Table Herbs and Roots their Diet wilde Fruits and Berries their Dainties Hunger their Sauce their Nails their Knives their Hands their Cups the next Well their Wine-cellar But what their Bill-of-fare wanted in Cheer it had in Grace their Life being constantly spent in Prayer Reading Musing and such like pious Employments They turned Solitarinesse it self into Society and cleaving themselves asunder by the divine Art of Meditation did make of one two or more opposing answering moderating in their own Bosomes and busie in themselves with variety of Heavenly recreations It would doe one Good even but to think of their Goodnesse and at the rebound and second hand to Meditate on their Meditations For if ever Poverty was to be envied it was here And I appeal to the moderate men of these Times whether in the heighth of these wofull Warres they have not sometimes wisht not out of Passionate distemper but serious recollection of themselves some such Private Place to retire unto where out of the noise of this Clamorous World they might have reposed themselves and served GOD with more Quiet 3. These Monks were of two sorts They vowed no Poverty Chastity or Obedience either such as fled from actuall or from imminent Persecution For when a danger is not created by a timorous Fancie but rationally represented as probable See 〈◊〉 Virgil le 〈…〉 lib. 761. in such a case the Principles of Prudence not out of Cowardise but Caution warrant men to provide for their Safety Neither of these bound themselves with a wilfull Vow to observe Poverty but Poverty rather vowed to observe them In Sixtâ—s Sene si lib 6. 〈◊〉 332. waiting constantly upon them Neither did they vow Chastity though keeping it better than such as vowed it in after-Ages As for the Vow of Obedience it was both needlesse and impossible in their Condition having none beneath or above them living alone and their whole Covent as one may say consisting of a single Person And as they entred on this Course of Life rather by Impulsion than Election so when Peace was restored they returned to their former homes in Cities and Towns resuming their Callings which they had not left off but for a time laid aside The first British Monks that we meet with in this kinde were immediately after the Martyâ—dome of Saint Alban for then saith Gildas Qui superfuerant sylvis ac desertis abditisque speluncis se occultaverunt Such as survived hid themselves in woods and desarts and secret dens of the earth As long after on the like Occasion when the Pagan Saxons and Danes invaded this Island many religious Persons retired themselves to Solitary lives Voluntary MONKS embracing that Life not for Necessity but Conveniency AFter these succeeded a Second Sort of Monks leading a Solitary Life Silver Monks succeeded the former golden ones when no visible need forced them thereunto as neither feeling nor fearing any apparent Persecution Yet these considering the inconstancy of humane matters that though they had Prosperity for the present it might soon be changed into a contrary condition if either the restlesse endevours of the Devil took effect or sinfull Christians were rewarded according to their deserts freely chose a Lone life also prompted perchance thereunto by their own Melancholy disposition 2. Afterwards it was counted convenient Fetcht from wandring in the wilderness to dwell together that such who hitherto dwelt desolate in Desarts scattered asunder should be
one hundred ninety four pounds and seven shillings per annum to justifie our former observation that even Mendicant Fryers had Houses endowed with revenues 19. This foundeth something to the commendation of the English Carmelites A great priviledge of English Carmelites That their Order lost not the vigour thereof by being poured into Cisternes mediatly derived from other Countreys but as our w Reynerus de Apostolatu Beneditinorum p. 164. Authour telleth us Hi cum primis Monachis Britonum Scotorum ex Aegypto Palestinâ in Britanicas Insulas Monochatum Intulerunt That Monkery and Carmelite Friery came out of Aegypt and Palestine into Britain Thus they will allow us to have superstition immediately thence without any circle from Rome but are highly offended and stickle mainly to the contrary That we should fetch true Religion thence with the antient observation of Easter but this forsooth we must receive at the second hand from Rome and be ordered according to her directions therein 20. Another thing also is alledged in the praise of our Carmelites And praise of their industry That they were most carefull in keeping the Records of their Order that the List being lost of the Benedictines Dominicans c. save here or there a broken link or two Carmelites have preserved the successive series of their Provincials Let them thank John Bayle herein once one of them though they be pleased to jeer him as forsaking it for the love of his dear Dorothy who in his youth made the Catalogue out of love to his Order and in his old age preserved it out of his generall affection to antiquity and it will not be amisse here to represent it Provincial His County Began Ruled Lies buried in 1. Ralph Freburne Northumberland 1240 14 Anwick 2. Henry de Hanna Brunham 1254 17 Stanford 3. Roger Grostwick Norfolke 1272 05 Brunham 4. William Hamberg Surrey 1278 03 London 5. Will Ludlington Lincolne 1289 05 Stanford 6. Will Newenham Cambridge 1303 02 Cambridge 7. Rich Wellwen Hartford 1305 04 Hutchin 8. William Pagham Kent 1309 03 Meth in Ireland 9. John Barkemsted Hartford 1312 07 London 10. Richard Blyton Lincolne 1319 06 Lincolne 11. John Walsingham Norfolke 1326 03 Avinion 12. John Baconthorp Norfolke 1329 04 London 13. John Blexam Oxford 1333 02 Oxford 14. John Poleshed Suffolke 1335 07 Yorke 15. John Folsham Norfolke 1340 06 Norwich 16. Walter Kelham Yorke 1345 05 Alverston 17. Will Lubbenham Coventrie 1353 01 Coventrie 18. John Counton Yorke 1359 03 London 19. Thomas Broun London 1362 17 London 20. Robert Yvorie London 1379 13 London 21. John Kiningham Suffolke 1393 05 Yorke 22. Steph Patrington Yorke 1399 15 London 23. Thomas Walden Essex 1414 16 Roan 24. Jo Keninghall Norfolke 1430 13 Norwich 25. Nic Kenton Suffolke 1444 12 London 26. Jo Milverton Bristoll 1456 11 London 27. John Sutton Doncaster 1465 03 Doncaster 28. Jo Vinde Lincolne 1482 14 Boston 29. Rob Love Norfolke 1505 07 Norwich 30. Richard Ferris Oxford 1513 03 Oxford 31. Iohn Bird. Warwick 1516 03 Chester 32. Robert Lesbury Northumberland 1519 03 Chester This Order was vertical and in the highest exaltation thereof in the Reign of King Edward the fourth under Nicholas Kenton their twenty fifth Provincial they reckoned no fewer than n Pitz. de script An. pag. 659. fifteen hundred of their Order But when Iohn Milverton his Successour began in favour of Friery furiously to engage against Bishops and the Secular Clergy the Carmelites good masters and dames began to o Idem p. 674. forsake them and they never recovered their credit till they were utterly dissolved Iohn Bird the one and thirtieth some say last Provinciall of this Order zealously impugned the Pope's Primacy in his Sermons for which he was made the first Bishop of Chester and was * Godwin in the Bishops of Chester ejected that See in the Reign of Queen Mary because he was married 21. We must not forget how the Carmelites boast very much of one Simon Stock of their Order The Legend of Simon Stock a Kentish-man or rather Kentish-boy which being but twelve years of age went out into the Woods and there fed on Roots and Wilde fruit living in the Trunke of an hollow-Tree whence he got the Sirname of p Rein. in Apost Benedict p. 164. Stock having a Revelation That soon after some should come out of Syria and confirm his Order which came to passe when the Carmelites came here He afterwards became Master-Generall of their Order to whom the respective Provincialls are accountable and is said to be famous for his miracles Let Syria then boast no longer of the sanctity of their Simon Stulites so called it seems because constantly living about a Stone-pillar our Simon Stock may mate their Simon Stone in all particulars of holiness though under the Rose be it spoken Mr. Richard Stock the painful Minister of S. All-hallowes Broad-street in London for r Stows Survey of Lond. p 821. 32 years did advance God's glory more than both of them 22. Augustinian Eremites lag last Augustinian Eremites of farre later date than Augustinian-Monks as who first entred England Anno 1252 and had if not their first their fairest habitation at S. Peter's the Poor London thence probably taking the denomination of Povertie otherwise at this day one of the richest Parishes in the City because the said Augustinian-Eremites went under the notion of Begging-Fryers Mean time what a mockerie was this that these should pretend to be Eremites who instead of a wide Wildernesse lived in Broad street London where their Church at this day belongeth to the Dutch-Congregation To give these Augustine-Fryers their due they were good Disputants on which account they are remembred still in Oxford by an Act performed by Candidates for Mastership called Keeping of Augustines 23. So much for the four principall sort of Fryers Trinltarian Fryers The following Orders being but additionall descants upon them with some variations of their Founders Amongst whom were the Trinitarians for whom Robert Rooksley built first an House at Mottingden in Kent they were called also Robertines and de Redemptione Captivorum whose work was to beg money of well-disposed people for the ransoming of Christians in Captivity with the Pagans A charitable employment and God himself in some sort may seem Soveraigne of their Order ſ Psal 79. 11. 146. 7. who looseth the Prisoner and their sighing cometh before him My t Weavers Fun. Mon. p. 143. Author telleth me that he conceiveth them suppressed in England before the generall dissolution of Priories though conjecturing at no cause thereof Sure I am 't was not because sublatâ causâ tollitur effectus plenty of Christian Captives then and since remaining amongst the Pagans nor will I be so uncharitable as to suspect some indirect dealings in their misapplying Contributions but leave the reason to the enquiry of others 24. The Bonehomes or Good men succeed them
mile of this City runneth partly by partly through it but contributeth very little to the strengthning thereof 5. The Rebels encamped or rather enkennelled themselves on Moushold-Hill whereon Mount-Surry a fair House of the Dukes of Northfolk whence they had free egresse and regresse into Norwich as oft as they pleased One Coigniers a Vicar in the City they had for their Chaplain and were so religiously rebellious that prayers Morning and Evening were read amongst them Mean time so intolerable was their insolence that now they sent up such Demands to the King to which He neither would in honour nor could in justice condescend Yet the King constantly chequered His comminations with Proclamatians of pardon which the Rebels scorn'd to accept 6. As for Thomas Cod Major of Norwich and others of the Gentry detained prisoners in Ket's camp they were admitted to the counsels of the Rebels for the better credit thereof If Ket were present they were no better than herbe John in the pottage and had no influence on their consultations But if he happily chanced to be absent then they were like S. Johns wort so soveraign for soars and against the plague it self and did much mitigate the fury of their mischievous Decrees Mean time great plenty was in Kets camp where a fat sheep was sold for a groat but penury and misery in all other places 7. Doctor Matthew Parker afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury getting up into the Oake of Reformation preached to their Rebels of their duty and allegiance But the Oake as soon as the Auditory would embrace his Doctrine yea his life was likely to be ended before his Sermon Arrows being shot at him had not Coigniers Kets Chaplain seasonably yet abruptly set the Te Deum during the singing whereof the Dr. withdrew to sing his part at home and thank God for his great deliverance 8. William Par Marquesse of Northhampton Aide sent to suppresse the Rebels but more acquainted with the witty than the warlike part of Pallas as compleat in Musick Poetry and Courtship with many persons of honour as the Lords Sheffield and Wentworth Sir Anthony Denny Sir Ralph Sadlier Sir Thomas Paston c. is sent to quell this Rebellion They were assisted with a band of Italians under Malatesta their Captain whereof the Rebels made this advantage to fill the Countrey with complaints that these were but an handfull of an armfull to follow driving on the designe to subject England to the insolence of Foraigners 9. Now The Lord Russell conqueror Lord Marquiss conquered though neither wisdome nor valour was wanting in the Kings Souldiers yet successe failed them being too few to defend Norwich and oppose the Rebels Insomuch that the Lord Sheffield was barbarously butcher'd S r Tho Corwallis taken prisoner and the City fired by the Rebels which probably had been burnt to ashes had not the clouds commiserating the Cities calamity and melting into tears quenched the flames and thus the Marquesse fain to quit the service returned to London 10. Then was John Dudley Earle of Warwick The Lord Gray and Earle of Warwick come with new supplies with such Forces as were intended for Scotland sent to undertake the Task The Marquesse of Northhampton attended him to trie whether he could be more fortunate in following than he had been in leading Coming to Norwich he easily entred the City and entertained the Rebels with many sallies with various successe here too long to relate but generally the Earle of Warwick came off with the better 11. Now the Rebels impregnable in some sort if still keeping Moushold-Hill whereon the Earles Horse could doe small service deserted it of their own accord and came down into Dussin-dale Here their superstition fancied themselves sufficiently fenced by the virtue of an old prophecie Hob Dick and Hick with clubs and clouted shoon Shall fill up Dassin-dale with blood of slaughtered bodies soon It hath ever been charged on the English as if they alwaies carried an old Prophesie about with them in their pockets which they can produce at pleasure to promote their designes though oft mistaken in the application of such equivocating Predictions as here these silly folke were deluded For it being believed that Dussin dale must make a large and soft pillow for Death to rest thereon these Rebels apprehended themselves the Upholsters to make who proved onely the stuffing to fill the same 12. The Earle glad that the enemy had quitted the Hill fell with all his forces upon them and here happened a most bloody Battle The Rebels disputed the ground with their naturall Logick as I may term it down-right blows without much military Discipline Here one might have seen young Boyes timely Traytours plucking the arrows wherewith they were wounded out of their own flesh and giving them to those of their owne party to shoot them back againe July 27. Here some thrust through with spears wilfully engaged their Bodies the deeper thereon onely striving to reach out their revenge on those who wounded them But at last rage was conquered by courage number by valour Rebellion by Loyalty and in the fight and pursuit two thousand at the least were slain 13. Remarkable was Divine Providence in preserving the captive Gentlemen of the Countrey whom the Rebels coupled together and set them in the front of the Fight Now although it be true what David saith * 2 Sam. 11. 25. The sword devoureth one as well as another yet so discreetly did Captaine Druery charge the Van of the Rebels that most of these innocent Prisoners made their escape The last litter of Kets kennell stifly standing out and fortifying themselves accepted of pardon on the Earls promise it should be assured unto them 14. On the nine and twentieth of August a solemn Thanks-giving was made in Norwich for their deliverance Aug. 6. and is annually continued Indeed this City being betwixt weaknesse and strength â—s taxed for wavering at the time betwixt Loyalty and Revolt though to give the Citizens their due many expressed their fidelity to their Prince as farre as they durst for fear of destruction Yet better had it been had Norwich been weaker to be quitted or stronger to be defended whose mongrell strength exposed it to the greater misery 15. Robert Ket was hanged on Norwich Castle The legal 〈◊〉 of the Rebels William his brother on Windham Steeple Nine others on the Oake of Reformation which never till then brooked the name thereof Amongst these Miles a cunning Cannoneer was much lamented because remorse kept him from doing much mischief to which his cunning did enable him Thus by Gods blessing on Mans endevours both these Rebellions were seasonably supprest That of Devon-shire did openly avouch the advancing of Popery the other was suspected secretly fomented by some Papists who stood behinde the curtain but ready to step on the stage had Successe of the Designe but given them the Cue of Entrance As for the Rebellion at the same
carie this style in their superscription To the Students at Zurich But behold their names Robert Horne Richard Chambers Thomas Leaver Nicolas Karvile John Mullings Thomas Spenser Thomas Bentham William Cole John Parkhurst Roger Kelke Robert Beamont Laurence Humsrey Henry Cockraft John Pretio 6. Frankford on the Meine Where they found the State very favourable unto them And this was the most visible and conspicuous English Church beyond the seas consisting of c Tr. of Fr. pag. 20. 25. Iohn Bale Edmond Sutton Iohn Makebraie William Whittingham Thomas Cole William Williams George Chidley William Hammon Thomas Steward Thomas Wood. Iohn Stanton William Walton Iasper Swyft Iohn Geofric Iohn Graie Mighell Gill. Iohn Samford Iohn wood Thomas Sorby Anthonie Cariar Hugh Alford George Whetnall Thomas Whetnall Edward Sutton Iohn Fox Laurence Kent William Kethe Iohn Hollingham Here we omit their petty Sanctuaries having like d 1 Sam. 30. 31 David places where himself and his men were wont to haunt Deesburgh VVormes c. Where their stragling numbers amounted not to the constitution of a Church If these Congregations be compared together Emden will be found the richest for substance there the Merchants which bear the bagg VVeasel the shortest for continuance Arrow the slenderest for number Strasburgh of the most quiet temper Zurich had the greatest scholars and Frankford had the largest priviledges Nor let any wonder if some in these Catalogues assigned to one colonie were afterwards found in another seeing the Apostles e Heb. 13. 14. expression VVe have here no biding City hath in it a single truth in time of peace and at least a double one in time of persecution men slitting from place to place as they were advised by their own security Know also that besides these the first founders of these severall Congregations many additional persons coming afterwards out of England joyned themselves thereunto 42. Come we now to set down the sad troubles of Frankford A brief introduction to the troubles of Frankford rending these banished exiles asunder into severall factions This I dare say if the Reader takes no more delight in perusing than I in penning so dolefull a subject he will shew little mirth in his face and feel less joy in his heart However we will be somewhat large and wholy impartial in relating this sorrowfull accident the rather because the penn-knives of that age are grown into swords in ours and their writings laid the foundations of the fightings now adayes 43. The English exiles came first to Frankford Iune the 24 th A Church at Faankford first granted to the English and on the 14 th of Iuly following by the speciall favour and mediation of M r. Iohn Glauberg one of the chief Senatours of that State had a Church granted unto them yet so as they were to hold the same in Coparcenie with the French-Protestants they one day and the English another and on Sunday alternately to chuse their hours as they could best agree amongst themselves The Church was also granted them with this proviso a Tr. of Fr. pag. 6. That they should not dissent from the French in doctrine or ceremonie lest thereby they should minister occasion of offence On the 29 th of the same moneth our English with great joy entred their new Church and had two Sermons preached therein to their singular comfort About which time they constituted their Church choosing a Minister and Deacons for a time and out of conformity to the French abrogated many things formerly used by them in the Church of England as namely 1. They concluded that the answering aloud after the Minister should not be used 2. The Letanie Surplice and other ceremonies in Service and Sacraments they omitted both as superstuous and superstitious 3. In place of the English Confession they used another adjudged by them of more effect and framed according to the b Tr. of Fr. pag. 7. State and Time 4. The same ended the people sung a Psalme in meeter in a plain tune 5. That done the Minister prayed for assistance of Gods Spirit and so proceeded to the Sermon 6. After Sermon a generall prayer for all States and particularly for England was devised which was ended with the Lords prayer 7. Then followed a rehearsall of the Articles of Belief which ended the people sung another psalme as before 8. Lastly the Minister pronounced the blessing The peace of God c. or the like and so the people departed What is meant by framing their Confession according to the State and Time I understand not must our confessions as our clothes follow the fashions of the State and place we live in except it be this that it was made more particularly not only for sinners but for exiles acknowledging their present banishment justly inflicted on them for their offences The prayer devised after Sermon according to the genuine sense of the word seems no extemporary prayer then conceived by the Minister but a set forme formerly agreed upon by the Congregation Thus have we a true account of their Service conceive it onely of such things wherein they differed from the English Liturgy not of such particulars wherein they concurr'd therewith the cause as I conceive why no mention of reading of psalms and chapters in their Congregation These certainly were not omitted and probably were inserted betwixt the Confession and singing the first psalme 44. Thus setled in their Church Other English Congregations invited to Frankford their next care was to write letters Dated August the first to all the English Congregations at Strasburgh Zurich Weasel Emden c. to invite them with all convenient speed to come and joyne with them at Frankford This is the Communion of Saints who never account themselves peacably possessed of any happiness untill if it be in their power they have also made their fellow-sufferers partakers thereof However this their invitation found not any great entertainment amongst the other English Church-Colonies all delaying and some denying to come but especially those of Zurich were most refractory and shewed least inclination to repair to Frankford 45. This occasioned severall reiterated letters from Frankford Those of Zurich quickned by importunity pressing and requiring those of Zurich deeply to weigh this matter of Gods calling and the necessity of uniting themselves in one Congregation Let none say that Frankford might as well come to Zurich as Zurich to Frankford because the English-Zurichians though not in number in learning and quality equalled if not exceeded those of Frankford For Frankford was neerer to England and more convenient for receiving intelligence thence and returning it thither Besides all Christendome met at Frankford twice a yeer the vernal and autumnal mart and grant there was more learning at Zurich there were moe books at Frankford with conveniences to advance their studies But chiefly at Frankford the Congregation enjoyed most ample priviledges and it was conceived it would much conduce to the
into the Congregation 4. Here I omit many animosities The Senate of Frankford interpâ—se for Knox. and intermediate bickerings betwixt the opposite parties especially at one conference wherein D r. Cox is charged to come with his inartificial argument ab authoritate Ego b Tr. of Fr. pag. 40. volo habere I will have it so In fine Knox his party finding themselves out-voted by D r. Cox his new recruits out of England got one voice on his side which was louder and stronger then all the rest I mean the authority of the Senate of Frankford interposing on his behalf and M r. Iohn Glauberg principal procurer of their Congregation as is aforesaid publiquely professed that if the reformed order of the congregation of Frankford were not therein observed c Tr. of Fr. pag. 43. As he had opened the Church-door unto them so would â—e shut it againe 5. The wringing of the nose saith wise d Pro. 30. 33. Agur bringeth forth blood so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife Mr. Knox accused of high treason and departs from Frankford See here the Coxan party depressed embrace a strange way to raise themselves and accuse Knox to the State for no less than high treason against the Emperour in an English book of his intitled An admonition to Christians first privately preached in Buckingham-shire and now publiquely printed to the world Eight places therein were laid to his charge the seven last may well be omitted the first was so effectuall to the purpose wherein he called the Emperour no less an enemy to Christ then was Nero. Strange that words spoken some yeers since in another land and language against the Emperour to whom Knox then owed no natural allegiance though since a casual and accidental one by his removall into an imperiall City should in this unhappy juncture of time be urged against him by exiles of his own religion even to no lesse than the indangering of his life But what said Rachel of Leah a Gen. 30. 8 With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed with great rather than good wrestlings Such too often is the badnesse of good people that in the heat of passion they account any play to be fair play which tends to the overturning of those with whom they contend Hereupon the State of Frankford as an Imperial Town highly concerned to be tender of the Emperours honour willed Knox to depart the City who on the 25 th of March March 25. to the great grief of his friends 1556. and followers left the Congregation 6. After the departure or rather the driving away of M r. Knox Officers chosen in the new modell Congregation D r. Cox and his adherents clearly carried all and proceeded to the election of officers in their Congregation But first for fit title for him that was to take charge of their souls then for a proper person for that title 1. Bishop though first in nomination was b Troubles of Frankford pag. 31. declined as improper because here he had no inspection over any Diocess but onely a cure of a Congregation on which very account M r. Scorie though formerly Bishop of Chicester when preacher to the Congregation of Emden took upon him the title of Superintendent 2. Superintendent was here also waved as the same in effect onely a bad Latine word instead of a good Greek 3. Minister also was mislik'd for the principal Preacher though admitted to signifie his assistants perchance as a terme of too much complyance with the opposite party 4. Pastour at last was pitched upon as freest from exception most expressive of the office and least obnoxious to offence Then was M r. Whitehead c Ibid. pag. 52. chosen their Pastour yet so as two Ministers foure Elders and foure Deacons were joyned to assist him And because this was then aswell an Universitie as a congregation of the English M r. Horne was chosen Reader of the Hebrew M r. Mullings of the Greek and M r. Traherne was made Lecturer of Divinity In this-new modell'd Congregation I finde no office by name assigned unto D r. Cox more honour for him to make all than to be any officer who was vertually influent upon all and most active though not in the doctrinal in the prudential part of Church-government 7. As for the oppressed Congregation so their opposites stile themselves it was headed by William Whittingham Whittingam heads the opposite partie one though of less authority yet of as much affection to the cause as Knox himself This partie continued their dislike of the Liturgie calling it the d Ibid. pag. 40. Great English Book offended it seems with the largeness thereof And they affirmed may the report lie on the reporters to avouch it how Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury did present a book of prayer Q. Marie 4. an hundred times more e Ibid pag. 43 perfect than the Liturgie used in King Edwards dayes yet the same could not take place because he was matched with so wicked a Clergie in Convocation with other enemies Besides this their old grudge against the Common Prayer they were grieved afresh in this election of new officers in the English Congregation that their old officers were neither legally continued nor fully discharged nor friend-like consulted with nor fairely asked their consent but no notice at all taken of them In a word never arose there a greater murmuring of the Grecians against the f Acts 6. 1. Hebrews because their widdows were neglected in their daily ministration than here an heart-burning in the Wittingamian against the other party for the affront offered to their old officers Arbitration refused by the party of Dr. Cox in this new election 8. Here a moderate motion was made that the difference might be compremised Anno Dom. 1556. and referr'd to Arbitrators Anno Regin Mar. 4. which should be equally chosen on both sides To this D r. Cox his party would in no wise consent Whether because those pretended Arbiters would be no Arbiters but parties and widen the wound by dressing of it or because being already posesd of the power they would not divest themselves of the whole to receive but part again from the curtesie of others However this party lost much reputation by the refusall For in all controversies that side recusant to submit it self to a fair arbitration contracts the just suspition either that their cause is faulty or the managers thereof froward and of a morose disposition In fine as when two swarmes of bees daily fight in the same hive the weakest grow so wise as to seek themselves a new habitation so here Whittingam and his adherents resolve to depart and to seek their severall providences in another place 9. But alas these two sides had a sad parting-blow The two parties put asunder The oppress'd Congregation complained that instead of their Vale they had a
conscience is grounded upon the word of God and the word of God worketh his effect by preaching so as generally where preaching wanteth obedience faileth No Prince ever had more lively experience hereof then your Majesty hath had in your time and may have daily if your Majesty comes to the City of London never so often what gratulations what joy what concourse of the people is there to be seen Yea what acclamations and prayers to God for your long life and other manifest significations are there to be heard of inward and unfeined love joyned with most humble and hearty obedience are there to be heard Whereof commeth this Madam but of the continuall preaching of Gods word in that City whereby that people hath been plentifully instructed in their duty towards God and your Majesty On the contrary what bred the Rebellion in the North was it not Papistry and ignorance of Gods word through want of often preaching in the time of that rebelling were not all men of all states that made profession of the gospel most ready to offer their lives for your defence in so much that one poore parish in York-shire which by continuall preaching hath been better instructed then the rest Halifax I mean was ready to bring three or foure thousand able men into the field to serve you against the said rebels How can your Majesty have a more lively triall and experience of the effects of much preaching or little or no preaching the one worketh most faithfull obedience the other working most unnaturall disobedience and rebellion but it is thought that many are admitted to preach and few able to do it well that unable preachers be removed is very requisite if ability and sufficiency may be rightly weighed and judged and therein I trust as much is and shall be done as can be for both I for my own part let it be spoken without any ostentation I am very carefull in allowing of such preachers only as be able both for the knowledge in the Scriptures and also for testimony of their godly life and conversation and besides that I have given very great charge to the rest of my brethren the Bishops of this Province to do the like we admited no man to the office of preaching that either prosesseth Papistry or puritanisme the graduats of the Vniversities are only admitted to be preachers unless it be some few which have excellent gifts of knowledge in the Scriptures joyned with good utterance and godly perswasions I my self procured above 40. learned preachers and graduats within less then these six years to be placed within the Diocess of York besides those I found there and there I left them the fruits of whose travell in preaching your Majesty is like to reap daily by most assured dutifull obedience of your subjects in those parts But indeed this age judgeth hardly and nothing indifferently of the ability of preachers of our time judging few or none to be able in their opinion which hard judgement groweth upon divers ill dispositions of men St. Paul doth command the preaching of Christ crucified be absque eminentia sermonis but in our time many have so delicate eares that no preaching can satisfie them unless it be sauced with much sweetness and exornation of speech which the same apostle utterly condemneth and giveth this reason ne evacuetur crux Christi Some there be also that are mislikers of the godly reformation in religion now established wishing indeed that there were no preachers at all and so by depraving of ministers impugne religion non aperto Martis sed in cuniculis much like to the Popish Bishops in your fathers time who would have had the english translation of the Bible called in as evill translated and the new translation thereof to be committed to them which they never intended to performe A number there is and that exceeding great whereof some are altogether worldly minded and altogether bent covetously to gather worldly goods and possessions serving all carnall vain dissolute and lascivious life Voluptatis amores magis quam Dei semetipsos dediderunt ad patrandum omnem immunditiem cum aviditate Eph. 4. 19. and because the preaching of Gods word which to all Christians conscience is sweet and delectable to them having cauterizatas conscientias is bitter and grievous for as St. Ambrose saith super Psal 119. quomodo possunt verba Dei dulcia esse in faucibus tuis in quibus est amaritudo There they wish also that there were no preachers at all but because they dare not directly condemne the office of preaching so expressly commanded by Gods word for that the same were open blasphemy they turne themselves altogether and with the same meaning as others do to make exceptions against the persons of them that be admitted to preach But God forbid Madam that you should open your eares to any of these wicked perswasions or any way to diminish the preaching of Christs gospell for that you would ruinate altogether at length Cum defecerit propheta dissipabitur populus Pro. 27. saith Solomon Now where it is though that the reading of godly Homilies set forth by publick authority may suffice I continue in the same minde I was when I attended upon your Majesty the reading of Homilies hath his commodities but it is nothing comparable to the office of preaching The godly preacher is learned in the gospell Fidelis servus qui novit who can apply his speech to the diversity of times places and hearers which cannot be done in homilies Exhortations reprehensions and perswasions are uttered with more affections to the moving of the hearers in sermons then in Homilies Besides Homilies were devised by godly Bishops in your brothers dayes only to supply necessity by want of preachers and are by the statute not to be preferred but to give place to sermons wheresoever they may be had and were never thought in themselves to contain alone sufficient instruction for the Church of England for it was then sound as it is sound now that this Church of England hath been by appropriations and that not without sacriledge spoiled of the livings which at the first were appointed to the office of preaching and teaching which appropriations were first annexed to Abbyes and after came to the crown and now are disposed to private mens possessions without hope to reduce the same to the originall Institution So that at this day in my opinion where one Church is able to yield sufficient living to a learned preacher there are at the least seven Churches unable to do the same where there be * * The word nor being easily legible I have 〈◊〉 â—â—ink as sometimes before and after prefering to refer the sence to the Judicious Readers own coniecture then to impose my guess upon him soules the more is the pitâ—y there are not seven pounds a year reserved for the Minister In such parishes as it is not possible to place able preachers for want of convenient
we trust as we can further it M r. Allen liketh well of the matter 18. The year proved very active The activity of the Presbyterian especially in the practices of Presbyterians who now found so much favour as almost amounted to a connivence at their discipline For whilest the severity of the State was at this time intended to the height against Iesuites some lenity of course by the very rules of opposition fell to the share of the Non-conformists even on the score of their notorious enmity to the Iesuitical party 19. The city of Geneva was at this time reduced to great difficulties by the Savoyard her potent adversary Beza's letter to Travers in the behalf of Geneva and forced to purchase peace on dear an bitter termes saving that extremity sweetens all things and her present condition was incapable of better conditions Hereupon M r. Beza Anno Dom. 1582. Anno Regin Eliza. 25. the tongue and pen of that State to forrain parts addressed himself by letter to M r. Walter Travers whom I may terme the neck allowing M r. Cartwright for the head of the Presbyterian party the second in honour and esteem then Chaplain to the Lord Treasurer and of whom more hereafter The tenour of the letter is here inserted subscribed by Beza's own hand and in my possession which though it be of forain extraction carries much in it of English concernment Gratiam pacem à Domino Si quoties tui et C. nostri sum recordâ—tus Mi Frater toties ad te scripsissem jam pridem esses literis meis obrutus Nullus enim dies abit quin de vobis Vâ—strisqae rebus solicâ—tè cogitem quod ita pastulare non amicitia modo vetus nostra sed etiam rerum ipsarum de quibus laboratis magnitudo videatur Sed cùm in ea tempora nos incidisse viderem quibus silere me quam nob is scribere praestaret silentium adhuc mihi invitissimo indixi Nunc verò quum illum quorundam ardorem â—udiam per Dei gratiam deseruisse nolâ—i hunc nostrum absque meis ad te literis pervenire quibus tundem esse me qui fui testâ—rer abs te peterem ut me vicissim de rebus vestris certiorem facere ne graveris Sed alia sese praebuit scribendi occasio hujus videlicet Reip maximae imo tantae difficultates ut nisi aliunde sublevetur parva nobis admodum tuendae inconsueto statu Ecclesiae ac scholae spes supersit quod ita esse vel ex eo cognosses quòd haec planè in verecunda consilia capere cogamur Nam concessae quidem nobis sunt per Dei gratiam aliquae induciae sed parum ut apparet firmae futurae tantis veluti redemptae sumptibus ut in aeris etiam alieni velati freto jactati non temerè nausragium metuamus Amabo te igitur mi frater Precibus assiduis nos juvare perge siquid praetereà apud nonnullos anthoritate vales quantùm nos ames in Domino quacunque honesta ratione poteris ostende Scripst verò etiam ego vestris plerisque proceribus episcoporum quoque collegium ausi sunius communibus literis hac de re compellare verùm quod sit mearum literarum Pondus futurum vel ex eâ— conjicio quod cùm Oxoniensi Scholae superiore vere meam sim observantiam misso venerandâ— planè vetustatis novi testamenti graeco-latini codice testatus qui publicae bibliothecae consecraretur ne literulam quidem inde accepi ex qua meam hanc voluntatem ipsis non ingratam fuisse cognoscerem Cujusmodi etiam am quiddam apudunum alterum ex prioribus vestris sum expertus sed hoo quaeso inter nos dictum esto Ego verò frustra etiam quidvis tentare quà m officio in hanc Rempub Ecclesiam ac scholam deesse tam necessario tempore malui Bene vale mi carissime frater D. Iesus tibi magis ac magis omnibus ipsius gloriam serio cupientibus benedicat Genevae Octobris 1582. * * The figure of the day not legible Tuus Beza aliena jam manu saepe uti coactus sua ipsius vâcillante Grace and peace from the Lord. If as often dear brother as I have remembred thee and our Cartwright so often I should have written unto thee long since you had been overwhelm'd with my letters For there not passes aday wherein I do not carefully think both of you and your matters which not only our ancient friendship but also the greatness of those affairs wherein you take pains seemeth so to require But seeing I perceive we are fallen into those times wherein my silence may be safer for you then my writing I have though most unwillingly commanded my self silence hitherto But now seeing that I hear that the heat of some men by Gods grace is abated I would not have this my friend come to you without my letters that I may testifie my self still the same unto you what formerly I was and that I may request of you not to think much at his return to certifie me of your affairs Also another occasion of writing offereth it self namely the great straits of his common wealth yea so great that except it be relieved from other parts very small hope remaineth unto us to maintain the Church and University in the former state thereof That these things are so you may know from hence that we are forced to adventure on these bold and unmannerly courses for our support For by Gods grace a kinde of peace is granted unto us but as it seems not likely to last long and that also purchased at so great a price that tossed as it were in the Sea of a great debt we have great cause to fear shiprack therein I beseech thee therefore my brother both proceed to help us with thy daily prayers and besides if you have any power to prevail with some persons shew us by what honest means you may how much you love us in the Lord. I also have written to most of your noble men and we have been bold with our publick letters to accquaint your Colledge of Bâ—shops of this matter but what weight my letters are likely to bear I can guess by this that when last spring I testified my respects to the University of Oxford by sending them a new testament greek and latine truly of venerable antiquity which should be kept in their publick library I did not so much as receive the least letter from them whereby I might know that this my good will was acceptable to them And some such requital also I have found from one or two of your noble men but this I pray let it be spoken between us alone For my part I had rather try any thing though in vain then to be wanting in my duty to this State Church and University especiall in so necessary a juncture of time Farewell my
for a private Motto amongst themseves Solvat Ecclesia Let the Church pay for all Bancroft then Bishop of London arriving at the notice thereof findes on inquirie that the Queen was passing a considerable parcell of Church-land unto them the Prelate stops the business with his own and his friends interest leaving these Gallants to pay the shot of their pride and prodigality out of their own purses Adde to this that I am credibly informed from a good hand how in the daies of King JAMES a Scotch-man and a prevalent Courtier had swallowed up the whole Bishoprick of Durham had not this Archbishop seasonably interposed his power with the KING and dashed the designe George Abbot succeeded Bancroft in Canterbury The new Translation of the Bible finished by the Command of King Iames and care of some chosen Divines of whom largely hereafter 48. And now after long expectation and great desire came forth the new Translation of the Bible most beautifully printed by a select and competent number of Divines appointed for that purpose not being too many lest one should trouble another and yet many lest in any things might haply escape them Who neither coveting praise for expedition nor fearing reproach for slacknesse seeing in a business of moment none deserve blame for convenient slownesse had expended almost three years in the work not onely examining the channels by the fountain Translations with the Originall which was absolutely necessary but also comparing channels with channels which was abundantly usefull in the Spanish Italian French and Dutch Languages So that their industrie skilfulnesse piety and discretion hath therein bound the Church unto them in a debt of speciall remembrance and thankfulness These with a Gen. 29. 10. Jacob rolled away the Stone from the mouth of the Well of Life So that now even Rahel's weak women may freely come both to drink themselves and water the flocks of their families at the same 49. But day shall sooner lack a night to attend it The causlesse Cavil the Papists thereat and the Sun-shine be unseconded with the sullen shade than a glorious action shall want Detractors to defame it The Popish Romanists much excepted hereat Was their Translation say they good before Why doe they now mend it Was it not good Why then was it obtruded on the People These observe not that whilst thus in their passion they seek to lash the Protestants their whips flie in the faces of the most learned and pious Fathers especially Saint Jerome who not content with the former Translations of the Septuagints Aquila Symachus and others did himself translate the Old Testament out of the Hebrew Yea their cavil recoils on themselves and their own Vulgar Translation whereof they have so many and different Editions b Loca ad Octo millia annotata atque emendata à nobis sunt Isâ—d Clarius in in Praes Bibl. Sacrosanct Edit Venctik 1542. but which in the following Edition is left out Isidorus Clarius a famous Papist first a Frier afterward a Bishop observed and amended as he said eight thousand faults in the vulgar Latine And since his time how doth the Paris Editions differ from the Lovaine and Hentenius his from them both How infinite are the differences many of them weighty and materiall of that which Pope Clement the eighth published from another which Sixtus Quintus his immediate Predecessour set forth Thus we see to better and refine Translations hath been ever counted a commendable practice even in our Adversaries 50. Besides this They take exceptions at the severall senses of words noted in the Margine the Romanists take exception because in this our new Translation the various senses of words are set in the Margin This they conceive a shaking of the certainty of the Scriptures such variations being as succours to be pruned off because they rob the stock of the Text of its due credite and reputation Somewhat conformable whereto Pope c Sixtus Quintus Praes Bibl. Sixtus Quintus expresly forbade that any variety of Readings of the vulgar Edition should be put in the Margin But on serious thoughts it will appear that these Translators affixing the diversity of the meaning of words in the side Colume deserve commendations for their modesty and humility therein For though as d On the Second Thes 2. cap. Saint Chrysostome observeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that are necessary to salvation are plainly set down in the Scriptures yet seeing there is much difficulty and doubtfulnesse not in Doctrinall but in matters of lesse importance fearfulness did better beseem the Translators than confidence entring in such cases a caution where words are of different exceptions 51. Some of the Brethren were not well pleased with this Translation Some Brethren complain for lack of the Geneva Annotations suspecting it would abate the repute of that of Geneva with their Annotations made by English Exiles in that City in the daies of Qu. Mary dedicated to Qu. Elizabeth and Printed with the generall liking of the People above thirty times over Yea some complained That they could not see into the sense of the Scripture for lack of the spectacles of those Geneva Annotations For although a good Translation is an excellent Comment on the Bible wherein much darknesse is caused by false rendring of it and wherein many seeming Riddles are read if the words be but read Expounded if but truly Rendred Yet some short Exposition on the Text was much desired of the People But to say nothing of the defects and defaults of the Geneva Annotations though the best in those times which are extant in English those Notes were so tuned to that Translation alone that they would jarre with any other and could no way be fitted to this new Edition of the Bible Leave we then these worthy men now all of them gathered to their Fathers and gone to God however they were requited on earth well rewarded in Heaven for their worthy work Of whom as also of that Gracious KING that employed them we may say Wheresoever the Bible shall be preached or read in the whole world there shall also this that they have done be told in memoriall of them 52. And as about this time some perchance overvalued the Geneva Notes Doctor H in Oxford 〈◊〉 inveigheth against the Geneva Nâ—tes out of that especial Love they bare to the Authors and Place whence it proceeded so on the other side some without cause did slight or rather without charity did slander the same For in this or the next yeare a Doctor in solemn assembly in the University of Oxford publickly in his Sermon at St. Maries accused them as guilty of misinterpretation touching the Divinity of Christ and his Messiahship as if Symbolizing with Arrians and Jewes against them both For which he was afterwards suspended by Doctor Robert Abbot Propter conciones publicas minùs orthodoxas offensionis plenas But more properly hereof God
had in a manner been fast'ned to their chairs and desks thought it a right due to themselves that when their work was ended they might begin their recreation Wherefore they viewed the most eminent Cities in the Low-Countreys and at all places were bountifully received Leiden only excepted Wonder not that they who had most learning should shew least civility especially having Professours of Humanity amongst them seeing generally the great ones of that University at this time being Remonstrants were disaffected to the decisions of this Syond This gave occasion to that passage in the speech of Sir Dudlie Carleton the English Ambassadour when in the name of his Master he tendred the States publick thanks for their great respects to the English Divines using words to this effect That they had been entertained at Amsterdam welcome at the Hague cheerfully received at Roterdam kindly embraced at Utreich c. and that they had seen Leiden 3. But Their Letter to K. James how high an esteem the STATES-GENERAL had of these our English-mens serivce will best appear by Their Letter which They sent to King JAMES as followeth Serenissime REX Qvemadmodum hoc unicè propositum Nobis fuit ut quae in Civitatibus Provinciisque nostris ante annos aliquot exortae erant infelices de Religione contentions eruditorum ac piorum hominum judicio legitimè tolli ac componi possent ut conscientiis eorum quibus Nos praeesse Deus Immortalis voluit ipsique pariter Reipublicae suâ in Religione ac pietate simul ratio constaret tranquillitas ita nos benïgnè is respexit cui hactenus curae fuimus Qui Conventui nostro Nationali quem ex omnibus idem sentientibus Ecclesiis convocavimus ita benedixit ut re tantâ ad felicem atque optatum exitum perductâ domum ad suos se conferant Quibus benedictionem Domini studium nostrum in promovendo pietatis negotio consensum planè cum aliis Ecclesiis unanimem indicabunt Inter quos cum praecipui consilio loco fuerint Magnae Britanniae Theologi quos pro singulari divino in Nos Ecclesias nostras affectu ad Nos mittere dignata est Majestas Tua curae Nobis fuit ut quantopere hujus beneficii magnitudinem aestimemus ex nobis intelligeret Majestas Tua Est verò illud Rex Serenissime etiamsi cum reliquis quae infinita sunt conferatur tantò majus quantò uberiores sunt fructus quos ex Dei causa expectamus quantòque id Majestatis Tuae nomini est convenientius Qui cùm nullâ re externâ atque humanâ quae potissimùm aliis Principibus conciliant dignitatem quoquam Rege sit inferior Fidei Defensionem tanquam Dei Ecclesiaeque Patronus in his terris sibi meritò assumit Neque dubitare possumus quin Majestatis Tuae Regna tot tanta reliquaeque quae in hoc nego io Nobis operam navârunt Ecclesiae magnam utilitatem ex hoc instituto nostro percepturae sint quae exemplo nostro discent quanto periculo conjunctum sit quae bene in Religione constituta sunt temerè movere quùm sint felices atque fortunatae quamdiu simili remedio opus non habebunt cui hactenus abundè Majestatis Tuae curâ atque vigilantiâ prospectum fuit In Theologis porrò utriusque Regni Vestri omnibus singulis quorum agmen ducit verè Reverendissimus Dominus Georgius Landavensis Episcopus imago atque expressa virtutis effigies eam eruditionem pietatem pacis studium eumque zelum deprehendimus ut cum ipsius beneficii causâ Majestati Tue multum debamus magna pars ipsius beneficîi Nobis videatur quod ipsi ad Nos missi fint Deus immortalis Majestati Tuae Rex Serenisime ita benedicat ut illius benedictionis partem Orbis Christianus ex diuturniate Regni Tui Ecclesiae defensione diu percipat 4. With these Testimonial Letters over they came into England The British Divines return into England and first presented themselves to King JAMES Who seeing them out of a window when first entring the Court Here comes said He my good Mourners alluding to their black habit and late death of Queen ANNE Then after courteous entertaining of them He favourably dismissed them and afterward on three of them q Removing Carleton to Chcbester prefering Davenant to Salisbury and bestowing the Mastership of the Savoy on Balcanquall bestowed preferment So returned they all to their severall professions Bishop Carleton to the carefull governing of his Diocesse Doctor Davenant besides his Collegiate Cure to his constant Lectures in the Schools Dr. Ward to his discret ordering of his own Colledge Dr. Goad to his diligent discharging of Domestical duties in the family of his Lord and Patton and Mr. Balcanquall to his Fellowship in Pembroke-Hall 5. Since it hath been the successe of this Synod This Synod diversly censured Iohn 7.12 to have the decisions thereof to be approved applauded magnified by some vilified contemned condemned by others If men were divinded in their censures about Christ some saying He is a good man others way but he deceiveth the people no wonder if ever since all Conventions of Christians be subject to variety of mens verdicts upon them Of such as dislike the Synod none falls heavier upon it than a London ſ M. Iohn Goodwin in his Redemption Redeem'd cap. 15. parag 24. pag. 395. Divine charging the Synodians to have taken a previous Oath to condemn the opposite party on what termes soever But take him in his own words Farre be it from me to subscribe the report or information of those who charge the respective Members of this Synod with suffering themselves to be bound with an Oath at or before their admission thereunto to vote down the Remonstrants and their Doctrines howsoever Yet when Iread and consider 1. How learnedly solidly and substantially they quit themselves and argue whilst they goe along with the Remonstrants and declare wherein they agree with them in the points controverted betwixt them 2. How feebly and unlike themselves they reason when they come to the quick of the difference 3. and lastly How neer at very many turns even in those things wherein they pretend to differ they come unto them as if they had a very good minde to be no more two but one with them when I say I consider all these things methinks I see the intrest and obligation of an oath working much after the same manner as sometimes it did in Herod when for his oath sake contrary to his minde and desire otherwise he caused John the Baptist ' s head to be given to Herodias in a t Mat. 14.9 platter See here how this Suggester though at the first he takes water and washeth his hands with a Farre be it from me to subscribe the report c. yet afterwards he crucifies the credit of a whole Synod and makes them all
to Himself to be deceived by him and humoured into a peace to His own disadvantage 31. Once King James in an Afternoon was praising the plentifull provision of England King Iames his return to Gondomer especially for flesh and fowle adding the like not to be had in all Spaine what one County here did afford Yea but my Master quoth Gondomer there present hath the gold and silver in the East and West Indies And I by my Saule saith the King have much adoe to keep my men from taking it away from Him To which the Don 's Spanish gravity returned silence 32. His judgment was most solid in matters of Divinity Judicious bountifull and mercifull not fathering Books of others as some of His Predecessours but His Works are allowed His own by His very adversaries Most bountiful to all especially to Scholars no King of England ever doing though His Successour suffered more to preserve the revenues of the English Hierarchy Most mercifull to Offendors no one person of Honour without parallel since the Conquest being put to death in His Reign In a word He left His own Coffers empty but His Subjects Chests full the Land being never more wealthy it being easier then to get than since to save an estate The end of the Reign of King JAMES THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE ELEVENTH BOOK Containing the Reign of KING CHARLES excepted who in due time may be happy in their Marriage hopefull in their Issue These five have all been of the same Christian Name Yet is there no fear of Confusion to the prejudice of your Pedigree which Heralds commonly in the like cases complain of seeing each of them being as eminent in their kinde so different in their eminency are sufficiently distinguished by their own character to Posterity Of these the first a Judge for his gravity and learning famous in his Generation The second a worthy Patriot and bountifull House-keeper blessed in a numerous Issue his four younger Sonnes affording a Bishop to the Church a Judge and Peer to the State a Commander to the Camp and an Officer to the Court. The third was the first Baron of the House of whose worth I will say nothing because I can never say enough The fourth your Honourable Father who because he doth still and may he long survive I cannot doe the right which I would to his merit without doing wrong which I dare not to his modesty You are the fift in a direct Line and let me acquaint you with what the world expected not to say requireth of you to dignifie your self with some select and peculiar desert so to be differenced from your Ancestours that your memory may not be mistaken in the Homonymie of your Christian Names which to me seemeth as improbable as that a burnning-Beacon at a reasonable distance should not be beheld such the brightnesse of your parts and advantage of your education You was bred in that Schoole which hath no superiour in England and successively in those two Vniversities which have no equall in Europe Such the stock of your native perfection before graffed with the forraigne accomplishments of your travells So that men confidently promise themselves to read the best last and largest Edition of MERCATOR's ATLAS in your experience and discourse That good God who went with you out of your Native Countrey and since watched over you in forraign parts return with you in safety in due time to his Glory and your own Good which is the daily desire of Your Honour 's most devoted Servant THOMAS FVLLER THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN XVII CENTURIE 1. THe sad newes of King James his death was soon brought to White-hall Anno Regis Caroli primi 1 Anno Dom. 1625 News of the Kings death brought to White Hall at that very instant when D r Land Bishop of S t Davids was preaching therein This caused him to a See his own Diatie on that day March 27 Sunday May 14 break off his Sermon in the middest thereof out of civil complyance with the sadness of the congregation and the same day was King Charles proclaimed at White-Hall 2. On the fourteenth of May following King James his funeralls were performed very solemnly His solemn funeralls in the Collegiate-Church at Westminster his lively statue being presented on a magificent Herse King Charles was present thereat For though modern state used of late to lock up the chief Mourner in his Chamber where his grief must be presumed too great for publique appearance yet the King caused this ceremonie of sorrow so to yeeld to the substance thereof and pomp herein to stoop to pietie that in his person he sorrowfully attended the funerals of his Father 3. D r. Williams Dr. Williams his text Sermon and parallel betwixt K. Solomon and K. James Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincolne preached the Sermon taking for his Text 2 Chron. 9. 29 30. and part of the 31 verse containing the happy reign quiet death and stately buriall of King Solomon The effect of his Sermon was to advance a parallel betwixt two peaceable Princes King Solomon and King James A parallel which willingly went not to say ran of its own accord and when it chanced to stay was fairly led on by the art and ingenoitie of the Bishop not enforcing but improving the conformitie betwixt these two Kings in ten particulars all expressed in the Text as we read in the vulgar Latin somewhat different from the new Translation King Solomon King James 1. His eloquence the rest of the words of Solomon 2. His actions and all that he did 3. A well within to supply the same and his wisedome 4. The preservation thereof to eternitie Are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon made by Nathan the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite and Iddo the Seer 5. He reigned in Jerusalem a great Citie by him enlarged and repaired 6. Over all Israel the whole Empire 7. A great space of time full fourtie years 8. Then he slept importing no sudden and violent dying but a premeditate and affected kinde of sleeping 9. With his fathers David especially his Soul being disposed of in happiness 10. And was buried in the City of David 1. Had b Tacitus of Augustus profluentem quae Principem deceret eloquentiam 2. Was eminent in his actions of Religion Justice War and Peace 3. So wise that there was nothing that any c pag. 59. would learn which he was not able to teach 4. As Trajan was nicknamed herba parietaria a Wal-flower because his name was engraven on every wal so King James shall be called herba chartacea the paper-flower and his glory be read in d pag 61. in all writers 5. He reigned in the capital City of London by him much augmented 6. Over great Britain by him happily united and other Dominions 7. In all fiftie eight though over all Britain but two and twenty years reigning as
idle Monks may fitly be compared 8. To repair the damage lately done by Montgomerie to the Towne of Cambridge Hen. 1. 2 King Henry the first bestowed many priviledges thereon 1101 which the University is so far from repining Cambridge first made a Corporation she rejoyceth thereat For well may the jewel delight to be put in an handsome cabinet He freed the Town from the power of the Sheriff making it a Corporation upon the payment of one hundred and one marks yearly into the Exchequer which summe the Sheriff paid before for his profits out of the Towne when it was under his jurisdiction Besides whereas the Ferrie over the river Grant was a vagrant before even any where where passengers could get wastage over by authority and custome it now began to be fixed neer Cambridge which brought much trading and concourse of people thereunto 9. About this time Barnwell 4 that is 1103 Childrens-well a Village within the precincts of Cambridge The original of Midsummer Fair. got both the name thereof and a Faire therein on this occasion Many little k Liber â—arnwellensis children on Midsummer or S t. John Baptists eve met there in mirth to play and sport together Anno Dom. Their company caused the confluence of moe and bigger boys to the place Anno Regis Hen. 1 Then bigger than they even their Parents themselves came thither to be delighted with the activity of their children Meat and drink must be had for their refection which brought some victualling-booths to be set up Pedlers with toys and trifles cannot then be supposed long absent whose packs in short time swelled into Tradesmens stalls of all commodities Now it is become a great Faire and as I may term it one of the Townsmens Commencements wherein they take their degrees of wealth fraught with all store of Wares and nothing except buyers wanting therein 10. Jews at this time came first to Cambridge Jews their first coming to Cambridge and possessed a great part of the Town 1106 called the Jewrie at this day 7 â—â—und-Church in the Jewrie is conjectured by the rotundity of the structure to have been built for their Synagogue Much like whereunto for fabrick and fashion I have seen another at Northhampton where Jews about the same time had their Seminarie Some will say Cambridge an inland Town of small trading was ill chosen by these Jews for their Seat where the poor Scholars if borrowing from these Userers were likely to bring but small profit unto them But let it suffice that the Jewes chose this place whom no Christians need advise for their own advantage Here their carriage was very civil not complained of as elsewhere for cruel crucifying of Christian children and other enormities 11 Now the Reader is requested seriously to preuse the following passage as faithfully transcribed out of an excellent l P Blaesensts in his addiâ—ament to the Hâ—st of Ingulâ—â—uâ— author Cambridge restored to Learning by the Abbot of Crowland and of high concernment in this our History Joffred Abbot of Crowland sent over to his manour of Cotenham nigh Cambria 1109 Gislebert his fellow Monk 10 and professour of Divinity with three other Monks who following him into England being throughly furnished with Philosophical Theorems and other primitive sciences repaired daily to Cambridge and having hired a certain publique Barne made open profession of their sciences and in short space of time drew together a great company of Scholars 12 But in the second yeere after their coming A grain of Seed soon grown a Tree the number of their Scholars grew so great 1110 as well from out of the whole countrie as the town 11 that the biggest house and barn that was or any Church whatsoever sufficed not to contain them Whereupon sorting themselves apart in several places and taking the Universitie of Orleance for their pattern early in the morning Monk Odo a singular Grammarian and satyrical Poet read Grammar unto boyes and those of the younger sort assigned unto him according to the doctrine of Priscian and Remigius upon him At one of the clock Terricus a most wittie and subtle Sophister taught the elder sort of young men Aristotles Logick after the Introductions of Porphyrie and the Comments of Averroes At three of the clock Monk William read a Lecture in Tullies Rhetorick and Quintilians Flores But the great Master Gilbert upon every Sunday and Holy-day preached Gods word unto the People And thus out of this little fountaine which grew to be a great river we see how the Citie of God now is become enriched and all England made fruitfull by meanes of very many Masters and Doctors proceeding out of Cambridge in manner of the holy Paradise c. 13 Thus Author writ some fifty yeeres after the coming of these Crowland Professors to Cambridge The time of this Authors writing so that who seriously considereth how learning there from a contemptible occasion by small meanes in so short a time improved it selfe to so great an height will conclude much of Providence therein and we may observe according to Scripture expression m 2 Chron. 29 36. God had prepared the people for the thing was done suddenly 15 But some adversaries to the antiquity of Cambridge An apparent injury offâ—red to Cambridge represent and improve this action much to her disadvantage as if newly now and not before she began to be an Universitie Objecting that if Scholars were at Cambridge before the coming of those foure Professors thither they shewed small civilitie in giving those strangers no better entertainment to whom they should have said as once n Gen. 24. 32 Laban to Abrahams servant Come in ye blessed of the Lord wherefore stand you without welcoming them to their Halls Hostles Chambers Studies with the best fare their present condition afforded Especially seeing Scholars of all men are soonest acquainted the sameness of profession commonly making them familiar at the first sight It seems therefore that at their coming thither either Cambridge had no Scholars in her or her Scholars had no manners in them yea had not read so much as Tullie his Offices to teach them civilitie to strangers professing learning but suffered them to live and read in a Barn by themselves 15. In answer hereunto She is vindicated from sucâ—aâ— traduce heâ— may the Reader be pleased to take into his impartial consideration the following particulars 1 Not much more then twenty yeeres since that mischievous man Robert of Montgomerie had dispoyled Cambridge And no wonder if the Blackbirds were slow in flying back to their nests which had been so lately destroyed 2. Yet a racemation at least of Scholars either remained in Cambridge all that plundring time or return'd soon after it For we finde King Henry the first o Caius in Hist Cantab. in the second of his Reign by order commanding some Civilians
Wares and Weights at Sturbridge Fair. Thirdly That no Action be brought by any Townsman against Scholar or Scholars Servant save onely in the Court of the Chancellour Fourthly That the University have power to punish and amerce all Fore-stallers Regrators c. paying a Rent of ten pounds a year for that Priviledge into the Exchequer This their Power extending to the Town and Suburbs thereof from which Clause of Suburbs the Lord b Vide ut supra Coke collects and concludes Cambridge then to be a City in Reputation 45. We must not forget that at the same time Focalia Focalia prized by the Chancellour that is all kind of Fewell Wood Coales Turf c. was then subjected to the Chancellour as to set the Price thereof Seeing the Townsmen had so little Wit and Honesty as to make Fewell of Kings Charters hereafter they should meddle no more with Materialls for Fire Thus ill Manners occasion good Laws as the Handsome Children of Ugly Parents Iohn Nekton Chancellour 1384 46. The University now began to grow sensible of a great Grievance 8 caused by the Minors or Franciscan Friars An Order that no Scholar is to be admitted under 18 yeares of Age. For they surprized many when Children into their Order before they could well distinguish betwixt a Cap and a Coule whose time in the University ran on from their Admission therein and so they became Masters of Arts before they were Masters of themselves These Vniversity-Boyes for Men they were not wanting Wit to manage their Degrees insolently domineered over such who were their Iuniors yet their Elders To prevent future Inconveniences in this kind the Chancellour and University made an Order that hereafter none should be admitted Gremialls under eighteen years of Age. 47. The Minors or Franciscans were much netled hereat Anno Regis Rich. 2. 8 who traded much in such tender Youth Anno Dom. 1384 Minors and Children agree well together The Franciscans oppose this Order and a Pitz de Script Ang. in An. 1384. William Folvil a Franciscan wrote an Invective against the Act of the University as injurious to the Priviledges of this Order it being against Monasticall Liberty to be stinted to any Age for the Entrance therein 48. I find not what was the Issue of this Contest The Issue uncertain but believe that the University never retracted their Order though it stands not in Force this day wherein many of yonger Age are daily admitted And seeing mans Life is now shortened it is but reason that what we want of our Ancestours in long Running we should supply in soon Starting Let the Water-men of London whose violent Work requires robustious Bodies make an Order in their Hall that none under the Age of eighteen should be bound Apprentice in their Company Ability is more to be respected then Age in the Sonnes of the Muses in whom often Eruditio supplet Aetatem Nor is there to my knowledge any Prohibition in this kinde observed save that they fright Scholars of a low Stature with a jocularie Tradition That none are to commence which are not higher then the Bedles Staff 49. A great Schisme hapned this year in the Regent-house about the Choice of a new Chancellour I find not who carried the Place and therefore probably the old one still continued Thomas de Hetherset 10 Chancellour Richard Maycent 1386 Proctour 50. Pope Urbane the sixth gave licence to Beneficed men to be Non-residents for five years and follow their Studies in the University if allowed by the Chancellour for the same William Colvil 12 Chancellour 1388 Iohn Wace Rich. Baston Proctours 51. A Parliament was called at Cambridge A Parliament kept at Cambridge a Place at this time very convenient for that purpose For he that will hinder the Hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot on the Middle thereof Cambridge was well nigh the Centre of those Eastern Counties lately mutinous with Popular Commotions The King for his Privacy was pleased to prefer Barnwell Priory for the place of his Repose though otherwise Kings-Hall founded by his Grandfather was prepared for his Entertainment where all things were so conveniently contrived that the Courtiers had all Lodgings and Offices by themselves without meeting with the Scholars save onely in the passage towards the Kitchin William Courtney Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Edmond Langly Earle of Cambridge lodged in the Convents of the Carmelites being of the largest Receit of any Religious House in Cambridge A sad Accident happened as the King rode in State to the House One S r. Thomas Trivet attended his Majestie which Knight being mounted on an unruly Horse was cast off brake his Entrails and died the next day 52. By the way Canterbury misprinted for Cambridge in the Statute-book me thinks Cambridge might bring an Action of Trespasse against all our printed Statute-books for depriving her of the Honour of this Parliament and rendering the place Canterbury in stead of Cambridge in the Preface to the Acts thereof This Inconvenience cometh from contracting long words in writing when there be two Names whose Faces as I may say I mean their Beginnings are the same and whose lower parts though much differing being cut off with a Dash causeth a Confusion betwixt them And although by the Tower Rolls and other excellent b Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton in their lives of Richard the second The excellent statutes of Cambridge Parliament Authours this Parliament appeareth kept at Cambridge not Canterbury yet as if Prescription turned Usurpation into lawfull Possession the Lawyers will not amend this Mistake The best is it matters not where good Statutes be made so they be made the Place being not essentiall unto them 53. Many and good were the Laws enacted in this Parliament besides the Confirmation of those made in the Reign of King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1388 viz. Anno Regis Richardi 2. 12 That the manly and Martiall Exercise of Archery should be generally used Secondly a Statute was made against the multitude of Servants great Lords keeping then little Armies in their Families which soon after occasioned the Wars betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster And whereas it was the generall Complaint that men were grown so vain and expensive in their Cloaths that Servants were not to be known from their Masters the Clergy from the Laiety something was ordered for the Regulating of Apparell the Wages of Labourers and removing the Staple 54. We must not forget that in this Parliament a Statute was made also against Wanderers Against wandring Scholars and particularly against Scholars of both the Universities that they should not go about without Licence from the Chancellour Indeed I have ever beheld begging Scholars as the most improper Object of Charity who must be vicious or else cannot be necessitous to a Mendicant condition But since I have revoked my
at London Robert Gilbert VVarden of Merton Colledge Doctor of Divinity in the behalf of Oxford and Thomas Kington Doctor of Law Advocate of the Arches in the behalf of d Ex Registro Cantuar. Hen. Chichely Cambridge made two eloquent Orations that the worth of Scholars in the Vniversity might be rewarded and preferment proportioned to their Deserts Hereupon it was ordered that the Patrons of vacant Benefices should bestow them hereafter on such as were Graduated in the Vniversity Gradus Professionis ratione juxta Beneficiorum census valores habita So that the best and most Livings should be collated on those of the best and highest Degrees 39. Doctor Kington returning to Cambridge Refused by their own folly instead of Thanks which he might justly have expected for his successfull industry found that the favour he procured was not accepted of The Regent-Masters in the Congregation out of their e Ant. Brit. pag. 278. Youthfull Rashnesse rejected the kindness merely out of Spleen and Spite because the Doctors would be served with the first and best Livings and the Refues onely fall to their share Iohn Riken d ale 1419 7 Chancellour g p 40. The Regent-Masters being grown older and wiser But on second thoughts accepted were perswaded to accept the profer sending their thanks by the Chancellour to another Synod now kept at London And now when the bestowing of Benefices on Vniversitymen was clearly concluded the f Ant. Brit. ut prius unlearned Friars whose interest herein was much concerned mainly stickled against it untill by the Kings interposing they were made to desist The same year it was ordered in Parliament that none should practise g Rob. Hare in Archivis Physick or Surgery except approved on by one of the Vniversities Hen. 6. 1 Thomas de Cobham 1422 1423 Chancellour Robert Fitzhugh Master of Kings Hall Chancellour afterward Bishop of London 2 Marmaduke Lumley Anno Regis Hen. 6. 7 8 9 Anno Dom. 1428 1429 1430 Chancellour afterwards Bishop of Lincoln VVilliam VVimble Chancellour Iohn Holebroke Chancellour 41. Difference arising betwixt the Vniversity Differences betwixt the Bishop of Ely and the University and Philip Morgan Bishop of Ely Pope Martine the fifth at the instance of the Vniversity appointed the Prior of Barnwell and Iohn Deeping Canon of Lincoln his Delegates to enquire of the Priviledges of the Vniversity 42. The Prior undertook the whole businesse Remitted by the Pope to the Prior of Baâ—nwell examined seven witnesses all Aged some past threescore and ten and perused all Papal Bulls Priviledges and Charters wherein he found that the Chancellours of Cambridge have all a Rob. Hare 〈◊〉 Archivis vol. 2. fol 103 Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction viz. Excommunication and suspension over Scholars and their servants probates of VVills granting of Administration and taking their accounts the aged witnesses deposing it on their own sight and knowledge 43. This being returned by the Prior The Pope giveth his sentence for Cambridge it's exemtion Pope Martine pronounced his sentence wherein he declareth that the Vniversity time out of mind was in the Possession use and exercise of Ecclesiasticall and spirituall Iurisdiction without any disquieting of Arch-bishops Bishops or their Officers and for the time to come he confirmed their b Hare in Archivis vo 2. fol. 115. Immunities which his Successour Eugenius the fourth re-confirmed unto them This strengthens our former Conjecture that the Vniversity willingly receded from their own Priviledges in Arundel's visitation VVilliam Lassells 10 1431 Chancellour Richard Caudrey 11 1432 Chancellour Iohn de Langton 15 1436 Chancellour 44. Richard Duke of York was at this time Earle of Cambridge A constant Tenure of Princely Earles the last that ware that Honour for many years in whose death it was extinct And now let the Reader at one view behold the great Persons dignified with the Earledome of Cambridge Scotch Kings Germane Princes English Dukes 1. David 2. Henry 3. Malcolm 4. Iohn Earle of Henault 5. VVilliam Marques of Iuliers 6. Edmond of Langly fifth Son to Edward the third 7. Edward his Son 8. Richard Duke of York his Brother Father to King Edward the 4 th No City Town or place in England was ever honoured with so many and great persons as Cambridge was whose Earledome sleeping for almost two hundred yeares was at last conferred by King Iames on the royallyextracted Marques Hamilton whereof in due place 45. About this time the many Chests of Money formerly well filled The Universities money embezeled and worthily employed for the good of the University and eminent Scholars therein were squandered away and embezeled to private mens profit I cannot particularize in their names nor charge any single person but it appeared too plainly that of 14. or 15. Chests not four were left and the summes in them inconsiderable so that Cambridge never recovered her Bank nor recruited her Chests to the former proportion Anno Dom. 1436 Yet afterwards she met with two good Benefactours Anno Regis Henri ci 6. 15 the one Thomas Bourchier Never reâ—lored to the same degree Arch-bishop of Canterbury who bestowed on her an hundred pounds the other the Lady Elizabeth Cleere Dutchesse of Norfolk which put the Vniversity in stock again bestowing no lesse then a thousand Marks at severall times on the publick Treasury though within few yeares little was left thereof 46. I know it is pleaded Vehement suspition of corruption that the expensive Suites of the University against the Towns-men in the Reigns of King Henry the seventh and King Henry the eighth much exhausted their Coffers But when all is audited a strong suspition still remaines on some in publick employment of unjust dealing Sure it is in the Reign of King Edward the sixth the Treasury was so empty it wanted wherewith to defray necessary and ordinary Expences SECTION V. Anno Regis RADULPHO FREEMAN Anno Dom. in Comitatu Hertfordensi Armigero SOlon interrogatus à Croeso Regum opulentissimo Plutarch in vita Solon quem ille mortalium agnosceret Beatissimum Tellum quendam Atheniensem civem privatum nominavit Huic res nec augusta nec angusta cum inter Invidiam Inoptam pari fere distantia collocaretur Si Solon nunc in vivis Te faelicissimis hujus Seculi annumeraret cui Mens composita Corpus licet tenue integrum Domus elegans Supellex nitida Patrimonium satis amplum Soboles numerosa ac ingenua Nec nimiis Titulis tumescis necte Obscuritas premit cui talis obtigit Conditio qua melior haud facile fingi potest Quod si tibi suppetat hora succisiva quae non sit fraudi serioribus tuis Negociis perlegas quaeso hanc Historiae meae portiunculam cujus pars majuscula in Collegio Regali describendo consumitur in quo